Press Release
February 7, 2009

Statement of Senator Noynoy Aquino on the Release of Felizardo Taran, Jr. and Rolando De Guzman

We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the decision to release from prison Felizardo Taran, Jr. and Rolando De Guzman, two participants in the murder of our father, Benigno S. Aquino, Jr.

The granting of executive clemency is an act of mercy that is bestowed on those who have shown remorse for their past crimes.

Taran and De Guzman have consistently refused to tell the truth about the circumstances surrounding my father's murder, upholding fabricated story upon fabricated story in their attempt to prevent justice from taking its course. Twenty-six years after they murdered my father, we have not been given the truth that would have exemplified genuine remorse on their part.

It is difficult to grasp why these men were pardoned and released ahead of many others who were charged with lesser offenses but are still languishing in jail.

As such, we cannot but point to petty vindictiveness towards our family, which has consistently spoken out against this administration's wrongdoings, as the sole motive behind this recent exercise of executive clemency.

In the release of Taran and De Guzman, the pretense of mercy has been used to disguise, albeit poorly, an act of political vengeance.

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