Some thoughts on Estrada’s pardon

I’m not going into the debate of its morality and ethics since a lot of people are doing those already. Besides one cannot complain since the present administration doesn’t have such clean records as well. Instead I just wanted to ask something which seems to always be forgotten simply because they are not high-profile cases.

When would the other old and dying inmates get pardoned?

I ask this because I was once again reminded of the old documentary I watched a year ago which was presented by Abner Mercado. It was about the old inmates, especially the “Lola’s” (grandmothers) who are still in prison until now. I cried so much while watching that documentary because hearing their stories and seeing their situation there, only a person with a heart of stone will not be able to shed a tear for these forgotten individuals. Their crimes are mostly petty ones, such as stealing bread to feed their family, some even were accused of crimes which they did not do, yet they are still trapped and caged, taken away from their families and taken away from society.

Many times people get caught for the little things they do. Small mistakes which they commit to keep on living or even just the unfortunate mistake of being at the wrong place at the wrong time get severe punishments. They get caught and sent to jail because they cannot fight back, or they cannot afford to. Why is it that people who take away vast sums of money from the country and its people always seem to get away with it? Its not like they do it discreetly too. You can see them living lavishly amidst the small income that officials are supposed to make.

I hope these”lolo’s and lola’s” who are still in jail get the pardon they deserve. I hope that they finally get to spend this coming Christmas (at least) in the arms of their families, before they die and once again get lost and forgotten into obscurity.