5 of 12 witnesses in Bilibid probe seeking parole, clemency

Five of the 12 convicts presented in the House of Representatives' inquiry on the proliferation of drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) have pending applications for pardon and executive clemency.

Opposition congressmen belonging to the "Magnificent 7" minority bloc made the revelation on Tuesday.

The congressmen expressed fears that the convicts' testimonies could bolster the chances of their applications getting approved.

During a media briefing, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said he recently wrote the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) to inquire about any pending applications from any of the convicts who testified at the House committee on justice and human rights.

The BPP responded by informing him that the following convict-witnesses have pending applications:

• Engelberto Durano,
• Nonilo Arile,
• Jaime Patio,
• Jojo Baligad, and
• Vicente Sy.

According to the BPP, Durano and Arile's "carpeta" or their inmate records were requested on October 27, 2015, and January 25, 2011 respectively.

Patio's carpeta, meanwhile, was returned to the Bureau of Correction on April 15, 2015.

The status of both Baligad and Sy's applications is "for verification of other pending cases."

Both Alejano and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman suspected that the convicts just increased their chances of securing parole after their testimony at the House panel.

"Tinanong ko ho ito dahil puwede itong gawing reward sa kanila dahil nag-testify sila, binigyan sila ng immunity, witness protection," said Alejano.

"Bantayan ho natin ito dahil five out of the 12, anytime baka biglang lumaya ang mga ito," the party-list lawmaker added.

Lagman, meanwhile, said: "Itong applications will be enhanced by their cooperation in giving their testimonies. Ito ang posibleng ticket nila to freedom."

Akbayan Rep. Tomasito "Tom" Villarin reminded the public that the convicts' applications will land on the desk of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has actively criticized and linked Sen. Leila de Lima to the drug trade inside the NBP, about which the convicts testified.

"This will also be reviewed by the Office of the President so aakyat iyan sa Office of the President," said Villarin. —ALG/VVP, GMA News