President Duterte granted absolute pardon to his avid supporter, actor Robin Padilla, Tuesday restoring his civil and political rights.
Padilla was convicted by the Angeles City regional trial court in 1994 for illegal possession of firearms and sentenced to a maximum jail term of 18 years.
But the Senate passed a law (RA 8294) authored by fellow actor and former Sen. Ramon Revilla lowering the penalty for illegal possession of firearms. The Revilla law, however was amended in 2013 by RA 10591 which penalizes illegal possession of firerarms from six to 12 years.
After serving three years of his sentence at the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City, then President Fidel V. Ramos granted Padilla a conditional pardon which expired in 2003.
During a dinner he hosted for the media, the President revealed, “I just granted a pardon in favor of Robin Padilla kasi yung original pardon niya hindi sinali yung (because his initial pardon did not include) full restoration of political and civil rights, therefore he could not travel, he could not get a permit, whatever it is to possess a gun again,” Duterte told reporters.
With the absolute pardon, Padilla is a new man who can travel, vote and be voted upon.
“I really do not know the dimensions of what is meant by the deprivation of political and civil rights. But one thing is that he could not vote, he cannot travel because he could not be issued a passport… Basta yung pardon ko full restoration of all his civil and political rights,” he added.
AGEING, SICKLY INMATES
This Christmas season, the President said he plans to exercise his power to grant pardon to elderly and sickly inmates at the state penitentiary “if they still want to go home.”
The Chief Executive said he is looking to grant executive clemency on inmates aged 80 years and above and those who have served 40 years in jail.
“Lahat ng matatanda at yung mga may sakit, yung may rayuma na hindi na makatakbo, 80 years old above, kung gusto pa nila. May mauuwian sila I will grant pardon also so that they could return home,” said the president.
“Yung nakatira diyan 40 years or more they deserve to be out to decongest the Muntinlupa,” he added.
SURPRISE
Padilla was in tears when he received his pardon papers in Malacanang Tuesday. He was at the Palace to request for an appointment with the President because his sister has a proposal regarding public hospitals.
He is aware that some people would criticize him. But Padilla said he never used his influence and connections even with past presidents to get himself cleared. Padilla campaigned strongly for Duterte during the May elections.
It was his manager Betchay Vidanes and lawyer Rudolf Hurado who wanted to process the appeal.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin sa mga tao na sa lahat ng mga pangulo, malapit ako. FVR, kinandidato ko po iyan. Si Erap, uncle ko iyan. Hindi ko hiningan. Si GMA, kinampanya ko din iyan. Kung saan-saan ako inutusan niyan, hindi ko hiningan. Si PNoy, kasama ko si Kris sa ‘Kailangan
Ko’y Ikaw,’ hindi ko hiningan,” he said.
SURREAL
“Sa totoo lang po, nawalan ako ng ulirat. Kasi hindi ko alam kung totoo ito, panaginip ba ito? Sabi ni mayor, ‘Basahin mo.’ So binasa ko kagad (last page) iyon na kagad, yung recommendation yung binasa ko. Sinabi dito na ni-rerecommend ako na absolute pardon. Tinignan ko kaagad na approved. Sabi ko, ‘Sir, pirmado niyo na po,’” he said.
Robin said the President even wanted to talk more to him but he just
became emotional and speechless.
Robin’s mother, Eva is happy with the President’s pardon and advised him not to waste his second chance at life.
“Masyaang-masaya siya. Sabi niya ‘Ang tagal kong hinintay iyan, anak. Huwag mong sayangin itong pangalawang pagkakaton,’” he said.
DESERVING
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said no one can question the full pardon given to Padilla because it is absolute and final.
“The power of the President to extend pardon or parole to convicted person is absolute, nobody could question it. Kaya’t itong ginawa ni Presidente, that’s final,” Aguirre said in a Palace news conference.
Aguirre said Padilla has improved his ways and deserves the absolute pardon.
“Alam naman natin na tapos na ‘yung panahon ni Robin Padilla when he was a restless soul at that time, several years ago. Pero alam natin napakalaki ng ipinagbago niya so I think he deserves this absolute pardon,” he said. (with a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling and Karen Valeza).
The post President Grants Robin Padilla Absolute Pardon; Ageing, Sickly Inmates Next appeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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