Teehankee and executive clemency
Posted at 10/08/2008 3:52 PM | Updated as of 10/08/2008 5:50 PM
Teehankee and executive clemency
Dear ABS-CBN,
Hello, I'm a TV Patrol viewer from Los Angeles, CA and a daily visitor to your news website. I find the news about the executive clemency granted to convicted murderer Claudio Teehankee an abuse of power by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Last year July 2007, an executive clemency was granted for a woman convicted of estafa named Anastacia Montes-Cauyan. She served just one year of her seven year term despite the fact that she has several other estafa and BP 22 cases pending against her at the San Pedro (Laguna) Regional Trial Court (one of which is filed by me).
What is so special about this woman that she was able to secure an executive clemency, you might ask? She is no less, a sister-in-law of State Prosecutor Emmanuel "Manny" Velasco. Now is that quite a coincidence or what?
I agree with Chiz Escudero that there should be a transparency in granting clemencies and it couldn't hurt that they publish the names of the convicted felons applying for one.
I am hoping that ABS-CBN will do a documentary (or a talk show topic) regarding executive clemencies and how it is granted. That would be interesting to see.
Karen (Los Angeles, CA)
The President has granted executive clemency to Claudio Teehankee, Jr., who was convicted for the 1991 murders of 16-year-old Maureen Hultman and 21-year-old Roland John Chapman. The families of the victims are shocked beyond belief and furious because of this decision of the President. I, myself, am alarmed and disgusted at the alleged clandestine nature of Mr. Teehankee's release from prison Friday.
Yes, it is the prerogative of the President to pardon prisoners, but given the heinousness and gravity of Mr. Teehankee's crime, I, myself, cannot comprehend the reasons why the President even considered pardoning him given that there are plenty of other people serving time who are more deserving of executive clemency than Mr. Teehankee.
These episodes of executive pardons for the President's alleged family friends, beginning with former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos's botched pardon, are starting to paint a disturbing picture that child rapists and murderers can avoid the full force of their sentences as long as they have patience, money, and, most of all, the right connections. It is truly a sad day for justice.
The President once again has provided her detractors more reasons to demand for her resignation. This decision of the President will further erode her support, and will force more Filipinos to question whether their President is sincerely committed to justice and good governance which she incessantly proclaims.
What would we expect from an illegal administration?
That it's every move will also be illegal.
How many times has this administration been accused of this? Since it was installed forcefully. And thereon it became abusive by virtue of political policies, too corrupt, by spending the people's taxes for their own benefits nor interest.
Nobody in any branch of our government is saying, no that's wrong. And it's not acceptable to say it's the president's prerogative to do what she wants to do in the Philippines. Even though it's wrong? Is this what Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile wanted to emphasize to the Filipinos?
Kung ganun, bakit naging abogado? Ganun lang pala kababaw ang kanyang pananaw. Dahil ba sa ginawa ni Aling Glo ng gawing kinatawan ng embahada ang kanyang kabiyak sa Espanya. Siguro dapat magresign na rin ang mambabatas na ito kasi mukhang wala na sa huklog ang pinagsasabi eh.
Senator. I think you are going back to your adolescent days.
The pardon granted by Aling Gloria to Claudio Teehankee Jr. who was sentenced for life for killing persons without any reason was unacceptable and it should be denounced by the people, by his victims and by the court who convicted this man.
Walang karapatan si GMA na baguhin ang hatol ng korte. Kung pinawalan ang isang kriminal dapat palabasin na rin ang ibang mas may mababang hatol.
This government is being selective due to camaraderie. The problem is another criminal will again be given executive clemency.
Yes, this is illegal by all means. In this the Higher Court must intervene. If not, it would be better to dissolve the courts.
Tutal wala namang saysay e. What else are they for?
Conrad Angeles
As a foreigner, living here in Davao City, Philippines, I was appalled by the executive clemency by the corrupt President Arroyo.
Where is the outrage of the Filipino people? This man killed two people, and injured one and by the power of her pen was released not serving fifteen years.
The senator in jail Trillanes said it best..'' the people deserve the government they get"...the Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales is too old and too senile to be in that position, shame on the Filipino people....mabuhay!!!!!
Anthony Palmieri
anthonydp7[at]yahoo.com
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