Aquino pardons terminally ill inmate

President Benigno Aquino III has granted conditional pardon to a terminally ill 62-year-old inmate who was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping. "Meron po akong pinirmahan, may terminally ill na convicted—reclusion perpetua ang sentence—I assume nabigay na sa kanya by this time," Aquino said at a press briefing after attending the opening ceremonies of the National Science and Technology Week in Pasay City. "I don’t remember the name—that's the first one," he added. The inmate, who is suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer, was sentenced by the Aparri Regional Trial Court for kidnapping and serious illegal detention. The sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court. As of May 2011, the inmate has served only eight years of his sentence. He was granted pardon on condition that he shall not again violate any of the country's penal laws. Aquino said he ordered a review on the processes for parole to allow him to grant more pardon. "Pinare-review ko lang po (yung proseso)...Naglabas na ng proposal ng panibagong amendment sa ating processes ng Board of Pardons and Parole at palagay ko naman po sa Pasko ay mas mapaparami natin," he said. Aquino said he wanted to make sure that the inmates who will be pardoned will no longer be a threat to society. He said he earlier had a hard time granting pardon to a rape convict. "May obligasyon ako na hindi lang ‘yung kapakanan nila (convicts). Pagbalik n’yan sa lipunan talaga bang maliwanag sa isip mo na hindi na sila threat? Pero doon sa mga una hong hinarap sa akin, hindi ho ganoon kaliwanag na hindi na sila threat," he said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News