Duterte rejects homicide convict Leviste’s bid for pardon

President Rodrigo Duterte has rejected convicted killer former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste bid for absolute pardon.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "24 Oras", Duterte said Leviste wanted his pardon because he wanted to run for office.

"Ang problema noon kasi sabi niya give me a pardon because I want to run. Gagawan niya yang excuse yung pardon ko para tatakbo siya," Duterte said.

"Kung nagsabi lang siya na i-pardon mo ako because of his old age I may consider. Yung mga may sakit talagang pina-pardon ko," he added.

Leviste was released on parole in December 2013.

Homicide conviction

Leviste's criminal case stemmed from a January 12, 2007 shooting incident in Makati City in which the governor shot dead his long-time aide Rafael de las Alas, who at the time was allegedly demanding a pay hike from the governor.

The former governor claimed the shooting was only an act of self-defense.

He was charged with murder but the court convicted him in January 2009 for the lesser offense of homicide, saying that the shooting to death of De las Alas did not appear to be premeditated.

He was punished to serve a minimum sentence of six years and a maximum sentence of 12 years, but it was slashed to just a little under five years after he earned "good conduct time allowance." —NB, GMA News