Palace: No automatic clemency for ‘Abadilla 5’

Writing a letter in their own blood may not warrant an automatic presidential clemency for the five men convicted for the murder of former Col. Rolando Abadilla 15 years ago, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Palace will still have to see if the five had filed a formal application and went through the proper procedures. "Siguro pinapakita nila pagkaseryoso nila gusto nila iapela sa Pangulo. Nguni't kailangan natin tingnan kung gumugulong na yan dahil may proseso behind the clemency," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. (Perhaps they wanted to show how serious they are in their appeal to the president. But we also have to see if they complied with the procedures required.) Earlier reports said the convicts — collectively known as the Abadilla 5 — asked President Benigno Aquino III last weekend for a presidential clemency or parole, with a letter signed in their own blood. Signing the letter were Leonido Lumanog, Cesar Fortuna, Joel de Jesus and Augusto Santos. A fifth member, Rameses de Jesus, had been transferred to the Iwahig Penal Colony in Palawan. But Valte said they will check if the five have filed the proper applications starting with the Board of Pardons and Parole. "Kailangan may application at i-evaluate. Hindi klaro sa akin kung nagsimula na ang prosesong yan (There must be an application and we will evaluate it. For now it is not clear to me if the procedures have started rolling)," she said. — KBK, GMA News