Prayers do get answered.

 

A 91-year-old inmate from the Women's Correctional facility, whose freedom no less than Pope Francis had prayed for right before his visit to the Philippines last January, has finally walked out of prison a free woman.

 

In a report on GMA News TV's News To Go on Friday, Kara David said Petra Lukingan was finally granted parole by President Benigno Aquino III and left the correctional Friday morning to be reunited with her relatives in Apayao province.

 

On board the papal plane in January, David had personally handed to Pope Francis 30,000 feet in the air during the pontiff's flight to Sri Lanka a beaded pink-and-white rosary which Lukingan herself had personally strung together. 

 

David was among the 14 Filipino journalists invited aboard the Pope's plane to cover his Asia tour, including his highly-anticipated tour in the Philippines.

 

Along with the rosary, David gave the Pope a picture of and a letter written by Lukingan. David said she asked the pontiff to pray for the elderly inmate's health and freedom, to which Pope Francis responded in English and thanked her for the gift.

 

"Answered prayers. Pagkatapos ng maraming taon na pagkakakulong, nakalaya na sa wakas si Lola Petra Lukingan," said David in her report about the oldest inmate inside the correctional.

 

Lukingan, who just turned 91 last January 24 a few days after the Pope concluded his Philippine visit, has been behind bars for the last seven years after being convicted of falsification of documents.

 

David, in her report, admitted being surprised with the conviction of Lukingan, who the reporter said did not know how to read or write anything apart from her name.

 

David said Lukingan's nephew picked her up at the prison facility.

 

"Iyak nang iyak lahat dahil hindi nila inakalang mangyayari pa ang araw na ito," described David.

 

David said the sobbing elderly inmate could not utter anything on her way out except, "Salamat, salamat Panginoon.. at dininig Niyo ang aking panalangin."

 

As part of her parole grant, Lukingan, though free, will still have to regularly report to her parole officer in Baguio City.

 

Since she plans to stay with one of her children in Apayao, Lukingan will just have to travel to Baguio regularly to report to her parole officer.

 

President Benigno Aquino III earlier tasked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to come up with names of convicts up for executive clemency. 

 

While the Justice secretary was able to submit a list, there has since been no word on whether such relief had been extended by the President. —Mark Merueñas/KG, GMA News