‘Brods’ slam convict’s sentence commutation in Cochise, Beebom murders

MANILA, Philippines - Fraternity “brods" of abducted and murdered student Ernesto “Cochise" Bernabe II and his girlfriend Ana Lourdes “Beebom" Castaños asked President Arroyo Thursday to put a stop to commuting the sentences of people convicted for heinous crimes. Officers of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity and Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association Inc. voiced fears the commutation of sentence of Rodolfo Manalili, a convicted killer in the case, will endanger the witnesses who testified against him. “Setting criminals free, long before they have fully served their sentences, sends a chilling message to all law-abiding citizens of this country – that THE STATE CANNOT DISPENSE JUSTICE PROPERLY. It emboldens criminals to commit heinous crimes knowing they can always get executive clemency if they know people in the Board of Pardons and Parole or Malacañang," they said in a statement placed in Metro Manila-based newspapers. Signing the statement were officers of the fraternity’s chapters in Diliman in Quezon City, and in Europe and the United States. They said that with the commutation of Manalili’s sentence, other convicted killers stand to benefit from such a privilege. “Was it because Manalili’s family is moneyed and the 2010 elections are fast approaching? Is the commutation of Manalili’s sentence connected with the commutations of the sentences of other rich, heinous crime convicts like Claudio Teehankee jr. or wealthy child rapist Romeo Jalosjos? Who will be freed next – former Calauan (Laguna) mayor (Antonio) Sanchez?" they said. “We therefore appeal to Your Excellency to consider putting a halt to further travesties of justice of this kind," they added, addressing President Arroyo. Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo granted clemency to Manalili, with Press Secretary Cerge Remonde insisting this was purely ministerial. Convicted along with Manalili for the abduction, torture and murder of Bernabe and Castaños in 1990 were Roberto Lising, Robin Manga, Enrico Dizon and Filemon Garcia. “As law abiding citizens and taxpayers of this country we are truly disheartened by the disregard of the rule of law and our time-honored system of justice," the fraternity officers said. They lamented Bernabe was slaughtered “as if he were an animal," while Castaños was “raped and slaughtered" as well. - GMANews.TV