Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday welcomed the release of Gerardo Dela Pena, 85, who is one of the country’s oldest persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
“I wish Mr. Dela Pena well as he embarks on a new journey of his life,” said Remulla in a statement. “This serves as a beacon of hope to other qualified PDLs.”
Kapatid, a support group of so-called political prisoners and their families, had expressed its gratitude to Remulla for facilitating the release of Dela Pena.
The DOJ earlier confirmed Dela Pena was released from the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City last Sunday, June 30, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted the commutation of the PDL’s sentence to 12 years.
The DOJ said that Dela Pena’s Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) credits of 11 months and 15 days also paved the way for his release. He was convicted of murder.
But the DOJ refuted the claims of Kapatid that Dela Pena is a political prisoner. “His conviction was not for a political crime which is aimed against the political order, as well as such common crimes as may be committed to achieve a political purpose,” the DOJ said.
“The decisive factor is the intent or motive. If a crime usually regarded as common, like homicide, is perpetrated for the purpose of removing from the allegiance ‘to the Government the territory of the Philippines Islands or any part thereof.’ then said offense becomes stripped of its ‘common’ complexion,” the department said.