Executive clemency misused in Teehankee case - UNO exec

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo misused her power of executive clemency in pardoning convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee Jr, United Opposition spokesman and lawyer Adel Tamano said Tuesday. Tamano said the issue is not how long Teehankee spent time in jail but why he was released, noting that Teehankee's guilt was "very clear." "Na-misuse ang power ng executive clemency. The reason why the Constitution gives this to the President, it is an admission minsan nagkakamali ang judicial system (The power of executive clemency was misused. The reason why the Constitution gave the power of executive clemency to the president, it is an admission that the judicial system is not perfect)," Tamano said in an interview on dzBB radio. Teehankee was ordered released from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City last week by President Arroyo. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Teehankee walked out of prison a free man last October 2 for "good behavior." Teehankee had been detained since 1991 for the murder of Roland John Chapman and Swedish-Filipino Maureen Hultman. He was convicted in 1995. Teehankee was sentenced to one count of reclusion perpetua and two counts of prison mayor to reclusion temporal, which carry a jail term of 20 to 40 years and 12 to 20 years, respectively. Tamano said there must be other prisoners who deserve to be pardoned. "Bakit siya ang binigyan ng pardon? There must be other more deserving persons. Why him in particular? Is it because mayaman siya? O may koneksiyon siya? (Why was he given pardon? There must be other more deserving persons? Why him in particular? Is it because he’s rich or he has connections?)," Tamano asked. To recall, Teehankee is the son of the late former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Sr and brother of former Justice undersecretary Manuel Teehankee, who was named by President Arroyo as the Philippine representative to the World Trade Organization. Tamano added that protests over Teehankee’s release can only do so much as the Constitution gives the President the power to grant pardon to a convict she thinks is deserving. "Ang pardoning power is with the President. The Board of Pardon and Parole can only recommend…Wala na tayong magagawa diyan. That is the prerogative of the President (The pardoning power is with the President .The Board of Pardon and Parole can only recommend. We cannot do anything about that. That is the prerogative of the President)," Tamano said. Worse, he said the development sends the message that one can get pardoned and released so long as he or she is wealthy and well-connected, thus neutralizing the "positive" message that even the rich and influential can be convicted for heinous crimes. "Now you have undone that message. Dahil may koneksyon ka pwede kang i-pardon (Because you have connections, you can be pardoned)," he said. Earlier in the day, Secretary Gonzales said that a reminder from Manuel played a key role in the release of Claudio Jr. Gonzales, however, clarified that the petition for clemency had been pending for three years. He added that three years ago, Ambassador Manuel Teehankee was still a Justice undersecretary. He added that while Teehankee had not served his full sentence, he had earned enough good behavior credits to have his sentence commuted. - GMANews.TV