CBCP official questions 'hasty' amnesty for soldiers

A Catholic Church official questioned Wednesday the "speed" with which President Benigno Aquino III pushed amnesty for over 300 soldiers involved in three attempted uprisings against the Arroyo administration. In an article on the CBCP news site, Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Commission on Prison Pastoral Care executive director Rodolfo Diamante suggested a review of the amnesty process so it can be more effective. "There should be checks and balances in the system if we really want our pardon policy to be untainted," Diamante said. He said reconciliation should not be the main basis for Aquino’s granting of amnesty to the mutineers, since it does not constitute restorative justice. In the case of the 300 soldiers who stand to benefit from amnesty, Diamante said their case was apparently "not rehabilitation driven." "People should not just enter prison to be made to suffer ... there has to be some sort of restoration or rehabilitation," he said. 'Political act' He added this particular case of amnesty to the soldiers was "definitely" politically driven. "I think it’s a political act. It’s a political act of the president when (he) grants amnesty… because he wants to have some sort of reconciliation with the soldiers," he said. "Whether we like it or not, the system of granting clemency is political by nature... not only in this administration but also during the past administrations," he added. Last week, Aquino signed Proclamation No. 50 which will grant amnesty to 300 soldiers who joined in the uprisings against the Arroyo administration in 2003, 2006, and 2007. Among those who stand to benefit from the amnesty is detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who is facing coup d’etat charges before the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) branch 148 and rebellion charges before the Makati RTC branch 150. But for the amnesty grant to take effect, the concurrence of Congress is needed. On Monday, the Senate committee on peace, unification and reconciliation approved the resolution concurring with Aquino's proclamation. The House of Representatives is set to tackle the same next month. Mockery of justice system? But Diamante said Aquino may even be mocking the justice system because more deserving "common prisoners" are still in jail for several years. "How would you explain that? Something’s really wrong here," he said. He called on the government to institute much-needed reforms in the country’s penal system as well as the process of granting presidential pardon. "He should have basis. As I said, when there is mistake committed there should also be accountability," Diamante said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV