The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday clarified that the 85-year-old Gerardo Dela Pena who was commuted by Malacañang from New Bilibid Prison is not a “political prisoner.”
NSC Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said it was clear that Dela Pena was convicted not for a political crime but for a crime of murder.
“The National Security Council wishes to correct reports that came out in the media that 85-year old Gerardo Dela Peña is a political prisoner. Mr. Dela Peña is NOT a political prisoner,” the statement reads.
“As clearly stated by the Department of Justice, he was convicted by a court of law of the crime of murder, which is a common crime. According to the DOJ: “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 decisive factor is the intent or motive.”
Malaya reiterated that Dela Pena was convicted not because of his political beliefs but because of serious crimes.
“The fact is that he was not convicted by a court of law because of his political beliefs but because he killed his nephew. He was also not detained in a discriminatory manner,” he explained.
According to NSC, Dela Pena was released after President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered the commutation of his sentence due to his declining health resulting from his advanced age.
The order which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin commuted Dela Peña’s sentence for murder to a definite 12 years.
His Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) credits of 11 months and 15 days also paved the way for his freedom.
“We wish Mr. Dela Peña well but we also want to set the record straight,” Malaya ended.
Dela Peña was a former head of the Camarines Norte chapter of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), a survivors’ group of those who were detained during the Martial Law regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.
Dela Peña was arrested on March 21, 2013 and convicted for murder when he was 75 years old.