Malacanang defended on Thursday the presidential pardon granted to the 10 remaining convicted killers of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., saying they went through the required processes. It added that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the commutation of convicts' sentences as a “ministerial act.” However, the United Opposition (UNO) slammned release, calling it an injustice to the memory of the slain senator and an act of “petty vindictiveness” towards former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, the widow of the assassinated leader and an erstwhile Arroyo ally but now her staunch critic. The 10 convicts in Aquino's murder were freed last Wednesday after serving 26 years in jail. Aquino was killed on Aug. 21, 1983. The 10 convicts - Rogelio Moreno, Ruben Aquino, Arnulfo Artates, Romeo Bautista, Jesus Castro, Arnulfo De Mesa, Rodolfo Desolong, Claro Lat, Ernesto Mateo and Filomeno Miranda -- were among those found guilty of murdering Aquino and Rolando Galman at the former Manila International Airport tarmac on his return from a political exile during the Marcos dictatorship. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Arroyo's top aide, said the executive clemency given to the 10 convicts in Aquino's murder was recommended by the Board of Pardon and Parole and endorsed by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez. “Given that there were a lot of people who move for the grant of executive clemency based on the recommendations of the Board of Pardon and Parole and also endorsed by the Secretary of the Department of Justice, the President just exercised her authority and for that matter you might call it ministerial authority to grant executive clemency,” Ermita said. UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the pardon was meant to spite former President Arroyo. “Mrs. Arroyo has committed an injustice to the memory of Ninoy, the Aquino family and to the people,” he said. Binay asked for prayers for Mrs. Aquino “so she may have the strength to weather this injustice inflicted on her by a vengeful regime.” Critics said the commutation of sentence of the 10 convicts was another case of abuse of authority by Arroyo. Ermita said Arroyo simply exercised her presidential prerogative to grant pardon under established guidelines like granting pardon to the elderly on humanitarian grounds and to convicts who have served enough time in jail for their crimes. He denied that Arroyo intended to hurt former President Aquino with her action, saying that it was meant to promote reconciliation with all the political factions in the country.
