Roxas, et al slam Teehankee release

Roxas, et al slam Teehankee release

By: P. M. Gutierrez

LIBERAL Party president Senator Mar Roxas yesterday criticized the early release from prison last week of Claudio Teehankee Jr. after the celebrity convict served 14 years for three heinous crimes committed in 1991, as he lamented the patently unequal application of justice in the country.

“Itong si Teehankee, after 14 years pinalaya na. Ilang mga mahirap na preso ang nakakulong ng mas higit pa sa 14 taon dahil mahirap sila at walang abogadong umaayos ng kanilang paglaya?” he said.

“Mali ito. Hindi pantay ang hustisya sa mahirap at mayaman, kaya wala nang tiwala ang mga tao sa hustisya sa bansa natin,” he said.

Roxas’ reaction was prompted by the admission of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez that Teehankee’s release was facilitated by a visit of his brother, Philippine Representative to the World Trade Organization Manuel Teehankee, a former justice undersecretary, to intercede and seek early release of his jailed older brother.
Following the former DOJ undersecretary’s visit, Gonzalez said he ordered the Bureau of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Parole to recompute Claudio Jr.’s credits. President Arroyo thereafter granted Claudio Jr. executive clemency in late September.

“Nakalulungkot lang na mas mabilis aksyunan ng ating mga opisyal ang mga aplikasyon para sa clemency at pardon ng mga mayayaman at maimpluwensiyang preso. Nakakaawa naman ang maraming preso na tumanda na sa kulungan pero hanggang ngayon ay naghihintay pa rin ng awa ng gobyerno,” he said.

“Dapat ipaliwanag ng gobyerno sa publiko ang dahilan kung bakit pinalaya nang maaga si Teehankee. Ipakita nila kung bakit nararapat ang maagang pagpapalaya na ito. Dahil kung hindi, at magpatuloy ang ganitong larangan ng palakasan, talagang durug-durog na ang rule of law sa ating bansa,” Roxas said.

While conceding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has the “exclusive” power to pardon and give executive clemency to convicted felons, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Loren Legarda said Teehankee’s sudden release only highlighted that justice belongs to the rich and influential people in our society.

Sen. Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said it is time for Pres. Arroyo to practice transparency before exercising her executive prerogative.

“That (release) is a travesty of justice and proves that justice in this country is for the rich,” said Legarda.

Lacson called on the Department of Justice to make public an inventory of convicts in heinous crimes that were granted parole, with emphasis on their social status.
“The DOJ, through the Board of Pardons and Parole, should make public an inventory of convicts in heinous crimes that were pardoned or paroled, with emphasis on their social status.

“Are the rich and influential getting the better part of the deal,” Lacson also asked.

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