Emil P

Emil P. Jurado writing on the Manila Standard warned the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that "her worst enemies are not from without, like the political opposition and those still perceived loyal to former President Estrada, but from within."
"Whoever advised the President, and it's likely the advice came from the Department of Justice, to order a review of the pardons and commutations made by former President Estrada in the light of her directive to implement the death penalty, should be canned.
"Even a second-year student of law knows that pardons and commutations of sentences are the sole prerogative of a President and once given, it cannot be reviewed and taken back.
"Pardon has two aspects-absolute and conditional. In an absolute pardon, there's no turning around. In a conditional pardon, it's only when the conditions are not met that they can be revoked. Commutation is an act of mercy, and it would be unconstitutional to take it back. The law must always be for the benefit of the accused.
"Thus, it would do well for the President just to leave things alone since it's fast becoming an embarrassment for her. Yes, the death penalty law must be enforced, and it's the responsibility and duty of the President to implement it. The law is hard but it's the law, and it must be enforced. This should be enough answer to the anti-death penalty sectors like the CBCP, which has taken Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to task for reimposing the death penalty on death row convicts."