Duterte grants executive clemency to 27 inmates

President Rodrigo Duterte has granted executive clemency to 27 elderly and sickly prisoners held in various jails upon the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Duterte signed the order setting the prisoners free on February 22 following a review made by Malacañang, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Monday.

The 27 prisoners form the first batch of 127 inmates the DOJ recommended for executive clemency, according to a media briefer sent to Palace reporters.

Of the 27 inmates, 23 got commutation of sentence and four received conditional pardon.

"Those granted conditional pardon shall be released from prison upon the awards of certificates to them while those granted commutation of sentence shall either be released, whenever their terms reached the maximum sentence based on re-computation or shall be granted parole upon recommendation, forwarding of carpeta/prison records and processing by the Board of Pardons and Parole," the briefer stated.

Culled from a list prepared by the Board of Pardons and Parole, the DOJ's recommendation for executive clemency was in line with Duterte's promise last year to free inmates aged at least 80 and those who have been languishing in jail for the last 40 years.

Those granted executive clemency were inmates of penal colonies under the control of the Bureau of Corrections, including the New Bilibid Prison and the Correctional Institution for Women.

"'Yung ilan dun commuted ang sentence. Commuted means shortened but kahit pinaikli, meron pang natitirang panahon na dapat i-serve," Aguirre told GMA News Online.

Aguirre previously said two prisoners had been recommended to receive absolute pardon and around 100 more for commutation of sentence.

Thirty inmates were endorsed for pardon to then-President Benigno Aquino III but the recommendation was not acted upon.

Aguirre said the DOJ is also open to the possibility of recommending to Malacañang the release of more elderly and sickly prisoners.

Under Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Constitution, the President is empowered to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, and remit fines and forfeitures, to prisoners after conviction by final judgment. —ALG/RSJ/KBK, GMA News