Palace starts weighing pros, cons of pardon to Magdalos

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has started weighing the pros and cons of granting pardon to nine Magdalo members who apologized after pleading guilty to coup charges for a short-lived mutiny in 2003. But Cerge Remonde, head of the Presidential Management Staff, on Saturday stressed that despite this "study," the final decision would still come from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. "We are weighing the weight of their crime and the implications of their pardon," Remonde said in an interview on dzXL radio, reiterating the soldiers must first file a formal request for pardon addressed to Mrs Arroyo. Still, he said the Palace was glad that "somehow," the young officers had "realized" the consequences of what they did. "Ang paggawad ng patawad ay exclusive prerogative ng Pangulo. Si Pangulong Gloria, siya lang ang may exclusive prerogative. Siya lang makapaggawad sa panahong inaakala niyang tamang panahon (Pardon is an exclusive prerogative of the president, who will make the decision at the time she deems appropriate)," he said. On Friday, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said he would personally recommend to Mrs Arroyo the granting of pardon to the Magdalo officers. Puno said the nine soldiers deserved to be given pardon because of the humility and courage they showed in admitting their wrongdoings. The Makati Regional Trial Court on Tuesday sentenced Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Capt. Milo Maestrecampo to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to coup charges. Army 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 prision mayor or 6 to 12 years in jail. - GMANews.TV