DOJ to recommend 300 PDLs for executive clemency on Marcos’ birthday

The Department of Justice will submit to the Office of the Executive Secretary a list of 300 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) whom it believes are qualified to be given clemency, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said Tuesday.

In an ambush interview, Clavano said the list will be submitted on the birthday of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. next week. He said past administrations previously submitted the list every Christmas.

“This year, or at least this administration, gagawin na namin na we will submit itong list on his birthday, which is September 13, next week,” Clavano said.

He said the list is being prepared by Justice Undersecretary Deo Marco.

“Itong mga 300 na ito na binanggit ko, that’s a list that comes from the Board of Pardons and Parole. So it’s purely up to the Office of the President and the Office of the Executive Secretary to choose kung sino doon sa mga qualified ang mabibigyan ng (who among the qualified will be granted) executive clemency,” he said.

Clavano stressed that the list of 300 PDLs is only a recommendation and that the final say will be with the Office of the President and the Office of the Executive Secretary.

“Hopefully, on his birthday, ma-sign na po niya ‘yung executive clemency (hopefully, he can approve of it on his birthday),” he said.

According to the DOJ spokesperson, executive clemency is similar to pardon.

“‘Yung executive clemency naman po, that is a purely an executive act of the President na for those that are qualified and have shown good behavior in the New Bilibid Prison, under our correctional system, mabibigyan ho ng (they will be given a) second chance ,” he said.

“Executive clemency is similar to 'yung pardon which alam natin may absolute, may conditional pardon 'yan and this will remove all criminal liability and it will give them a second chance as if hindi sila na-convict doon sa mga crimes committed by them,” he added.

(Executive clemency is similar to pardon where we know there is absolute and conditional pardon. And this will remove all criminal liability and it will give them a second chance as if they were not convicted of the crimes they committed.)

Clavano said the list will also be made public.—AOL, GMA News