While the constitutional power of the President to pardon prisoners whose convictions have become final is deemed absolute, such act of executive clemency must neither be arbitrary nor capricious.
In order to avoid the abuse by the Chief Executive of his power to pardon, the Congress has created the Board of Pardons and Parole to recommend prisoners who are deserving of executive clemency.
After serving a portion of his sentence of six to 10 years imprisonment in comfortable solo confinement at a military facility in Camp Aguinaldo, US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Pemberton was unlawfully rewarded by the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City with good conduct time allowance justifying his projected early release.
Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, one of the 31 petitioners challenging the constitutionality of the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020” (ATA), opposed the urgent motion of the Solicitor General Jose Calida, on behalf of the public respondents, for the cancellation of the oral argument in the subject petitions even as he cited major reasons for the holding of oral argument in open court at the proper time.
Why is President Rodrigo Duterte taking so long to sign the bill on the “Bayanihan To Recover As One Act” or Bayanihan 2 after he announced the necessity of its immediate enactment?
The Bayanihan 2 enrolled bill was received on August 27, 2020 by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) for transmittal to the Office of the President five (5) days ago.
Opposition Rep. Edcel C. Lagman maintains that oral argument in the anti-terrorism petitions before the Supreme Court can be held in abeyance while Metro Manila is under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) but must not be cancelled altogether.
