| Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta talks with political prisoners detained at the maximumsecurity compound of the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila) on Thursday as part of the free legal counselling services that the agency offers. PHOTO BY MIGUEL DE GUZMAN |
CHIEF Public Attorney Persida Rueda-Acosta on Thursday vowed to work for the immediate release of all political prisoners in the country, believing that the gesture will not only favor the prisoners but also help boost the peace process being pursued by the Aquino administration.
Acosta said that she had requested a list of all political prisoners in the country from Bureau of Corrections Director Gaudencio Pangilinan, including the status of their cases, for her to determine what action was required for their release.
“There are two options here, one is to ask for clemency and another is to request amnesty,” she noted during the “Legal, Medical, Dental Jail Visitation and Decongestion Program” of the PAO that was held at New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City (Metro Manila).
Acosta said that political prisoners who have been sentenced by a court can apply for executive clemency from the President for them to be released earlier than their prescribed jail sentence.
She added that she will ask the Board for Pardons and Parole to process the application for pardon of all qualified political prisoners for submission to President Benigno Aquino 3rd for final approval.
Prisoners who have served the minimum jail term of their sentence are qualified for executive clemency.
Political prisoners who still have pending appeal before a court, the PAO chief said, can be given amnesty but it requires the approval of member of the Senate.
There are at least 500 political prisoners in the country who t have been staying in jail for five to 17 years.
Besides political prisoners, Acosta said that she would also request the release of more than 400 terminally ill prisoners at NBP.
She expressed confidence that the President would grant the request to release sick prisoners for humanitarian considerations.
“Running priest” Father Robert Reyes said that he would ask Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd ‘s help in the granting of amnesty to political prisoners.
He added that he will personally meet with the senator and ask him to help convince other members of the Senate to grant the amnesty to speed up the release of prisoners.
Pimentel “knows that he only have a few months left on his term, and I think pushing for the amnesty of all political prisoners is the one of the best ways to dedicate his time,” Reyes said.
