Elderly PDLs appeal to be included in executive clemency grant

Several elderly persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are praying to be included on the list for executive clemency, according to Ian Cruz’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday.

Inmate Jose Villano, 73, said he has not been able to be with his family for 23 years, and was even unable to attend his wife's funeral.

He said that his vision is almost blurred, while his hearing has weakened.

“Sana sir kung may magagawa pa pong paraan, kaya ko pa naman pong magtanim,” Villano said.

(I hope there is still a way for us to be released from prison, I can still plant crops).

Melquades Marfe, 82, said he has high hopes for executive clemency.

“Sabi mauuna raw kaming lumayang matatanda [They said that those who will be prioritized will be the elderly],” Marfe said.

“Sana magpalaya na siya [Presidente] para makalabas na rin kami dito [We appealed to the President to grant us executive clemency in order for us to be released from prison],” he added.

The documents of these elderly PDLs in the Minimum Security Compound have been submitted to the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP).

According to the Bureau of Corrections' Inmates Documents and Processing Division (BuCor-IDPD), at least 4,000 documents have been submitted to the BPP.

However, it said that they did not yet have the names of 300 PDLs included in the list of executive clemency submitted to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Sa kasalukuyan, wala pa kaming impormasyon kung sinu-sino sa mga napadala naming records ng PDL doon sa BPP and mapapabilang sa nasabing bilang po na ito,” Raul Sinadjan, chief of BuCor-IDPD, said.

(Currently, we do not have any information on who among PDLs are included in the list.)

He said there were also qualifications to be recommended in the parole and pardon.

“Either na-meet nila yung minimum imposable penalty na na-commit nilang krimen or marahil sa kadahilanan ng kanilang edad kasi meron tayong ibang rules with regards sa pagpapadala ng carpeta,” Sinadjan said.

(Either they met the minimum imposable penalty for the crime they committed, or maybe because of their age because we have different rules with regards to sending the prisoners' applications.)

Based on the resolution of the BPP, PDLs who are eligible for parole or executive clemency are those who are 65 years old and above; those who have served at least five years of their sentence; or those whose continued imprisonment is inimical to their health, as recommended by a physician of the BuCor Hospital and certified by the Department of Health or designated by the Malacañang Clinic Director.

However, PDLs who have been convicted of heinous crimes or illegal drugs-related offenses, or otherwise classified by the BuCor as “high-risk,” shall not be eligible for executive clemency. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News