High court orders officials to explain early release of Teehankee

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court has ordered officials to respond on charges of illegality behind the early release of a controversial prisoner. In a resolution, the court required a response from Justice Secretary Raul M. Gonzalez and the Board of Pardons and Parole within 10 days on the release of Claudio Teehankee, Jr. Ernesto B. Francisco, Jr., a member of the prosecuting team, last week asked the high court to nullify a palace order that allowed his early release in prison. Mr. Teehankee, son of the late Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, was convicted of murder for the death of Maureen Hultman, homicide for Roland John Chapman and frustrated murder for the shooting of Jussi Olavi Leino in 1991. After more than 17 years in jail, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commuted his sentence to only 21 years and three months from the original life term of 40 years. The commutation is equivalent to time served. Mr. Francisco said Mr. Gonzalez and the Board of Pardons and Parole failed to comply with their own clemency guidelines on specifying whether the prisoners were petitioning for executive clemency or parole. Mr. Teehankee himself has not settled the civil aspect of his case, he added. - BusinessWorld