Priest-killer Manero may be released Wednesday

The Department of Justice (DoJ) would decide within 24 hours whether it would order the release of convicted priest killer Norberto Manero Jr from prison, radio dzBB reported on Tuesday. Manero, also known as Commander Bucay, was convicted for the killing of Italian priest Tulio Favali on April 11, 1985. He is detained at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The radio report quoted DoJ Secrertary Raul Gonzalez as saying that the agency was reviewing documents on Manero’s release, including the 1999 pardon order by former President Joseph Estrada, and a letter from Mindanao priests, favoring the killer's freedom. On December 16, 1999, Estrada gave Manero conditional pardon. But after the pardon was heavily criticized by the public, Estrada revoked the pardon on March 10, 2000, including former President Fidel Ramos's order, commuting Manero's sentence from 40 to 24 years. Estrada made the decision after the DoJ found out that Manero was facing a separate criminal case for the 1977 slay of Ali and Mambawatan Mamalumpong. On Tuesday, Gonzalez reportedly said that the DoJ was doing a thorough review of Manero’s case to avoid problems like the one encountered by the government on the release of convicted rapist Romeo Jalosjos, former congressman of Zamboanga del Norte. - GMANews.TV