2 solons thumb down pardon for 9 mutineers

MANILA, Philippines - An immediate pardon to the nine Army officers sentenced with prison terms for their involvement in the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny would give the impression of a secret deal between them and the government. This, in a nutshell, was the apprehension raised by Reps. Edno Joson (Nueva Ecija) and Alfonso Umali Jr (Oriental Mindoro) after Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr cited a number of mitigating circumstances that could justify presidential pardon to the nine Army officers. “I don’t think they should be granted pardon immediately after the promulgation of the case or it will reek of a scripted clemency. Let there be substantial serving of the sentence," Joson said. In an interview Wednesday, Esperon said among the circumstances that could be looked into in the possible granting of presidential pardon to the nine mutineers is the signing of a manifesto of support to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006. For his part, Umali, a member of the House committee on peace, reconciliation and unity, said the government and the junior officers should prove to the public and military that the not guilty flea was not a “moro-moro." “People like me would like to believe that the not guilty plea they had entered was a voluntary manifestation of remorse, not a tactic to win early freedom," Umali said. Administration Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr (Cavite), meanwhile, expressed openness to the grant pardon to convicted soldiers, saying the fact that they acknowledged their mistakes made them deserving of forgiveness. “There is always life after the commission of the sin. Forgiveness can only come after saying sorry for what you have done and paying the price for it," he said, adding that he believed that decision by the Makati regional trial court on the nine soldiers was fair. The court sentenced Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo with reclusion perpetua or 20 up to 40 years imprisonment. The rest - Captains Alvin Ebreo, Laurence Louis Somera, Albert Baloloy and John Andres, 1Lt. Florentino Somera, 2Lt. Kristoffer Bryan Yasay and 1Lt. Cleo Dongga – were sentenced to six up to 12 years imprisonment. “It's a logical consequence for threatening to blow up a hotel. If you go malling with guns and explosives, and threatening people, then you pay the price. Besides you can’t deny what you did because it was well covered by the media, aired live via satellite by television and you called for a pres conference to announce your intentions," Barzaga said. - GMANews.TV