President Rodrigo Duterte considers the continuation of Malacanang's practice of granting executive clemency to aging and sick prisoners during the Christmas season.
This comes after he granted actor Robin Padilla absolute pardon Tuesday night.
"I am contemplating and they are planning it," Duterte told reporters in a media briefing.
"The old and those frail, [those] with rheumatism or those who cannot run, 80 years old above, if they want, I will grant pardon so that they can return home," he added.
Duterte said old prisoners deserve to be released.
He noted this is also one way to decongest the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP).
On Tuesday, Duterte granted absolute pardon to Padilla, whose name was included in the list of 87 persons recommended by the Board of Pardons and Parole for clemency.
"I just granted pardon in favor of Robin Padilla kasi yung original pardon niya hindi sinabi yung full restoration ng political and civil rights therefore he could not travel, he could not get a permit… to possess a gun again. I really do not know the dimension of what is meant by deprivation of political and human rights. But one thing is that you cannot vote, you cannot travel and therefore he could not be issued a passport,” Duterte said.
The President said, the crime Padilla was committed did not harm any person.
"Ang crime na 'yan, walang nasaktan… He suffered enough I think. Eh, kung bitawan mo lang 'yung tao sa labas, give him the rights, makaboto, maka-travel whatever to enjoy. He can apply for a gun license because full civil and political rights, eh," Duterte explained further.
Padilla was convicted of illegal possession of firearms in 1994 and was sentenced to a 21-year prison term.
He began to serve the term after the ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeals in 1995.
Padilla served three years at the NBP in Muntinlupa City.
In April 1997, Former President Fidel Ramos granted the actor conditional pardon.
