Bello: Old, sick, female political prisoners may be pardoned next month

From GMA News (Nov 22): Bello: Old, sick, female political prisoners may be pardoned next month

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Tuesday revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte may grant pardon not only to old and sick political prisoners by December, but also to female ones.

"Very possible may mga mabigyan ng pardon, especially ‘yung mga elderly, ‘yung mga sickly and ‘yung mga babae," Bello said in a press briefing in Malacañang, noting the president's "bias" toward female prisoners.

Bello, the chief government negotiator in the peace talks with the communists, said the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) had requested to release around 40 to 50 political prisoners.

He also said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) showed neither opposition nor concern regarding the release of the detained members of the Left.

"We had very close meeting and discussion with [Defense] Secretary [Delfin] Lorenzana and even Secretary [Hermogenes] Esperon on… our National Security Adviser. We keep constant consultation with them. Wala naman, not a single hint of opposition," Bello said.

Before he left for Peru to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, Duterte announced that the government is preparing clemency to old and sick inmates in time for the Christmas season. 

The President had already granted actor Robin Padilla absolute pardon last week.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/589801/news/nation/bello-old-sick-female-political-prisoners-may-be-pardoned-next-month