Gerardo dela Peña, the country’s oldest political prisoner at 85, was released from the New Bilibid Prison over the weekend following a directive from Malacañang. Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. confirmed the commutation of Dela Peña’s sentence, along with his good conduct time allowance, facilitated his release.
Catapang stated that Dela Peña was fetched by his son on Sunday night and they immediately traveled to their home in Camarines Sur. The release order, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, commuted Dela Peña’s sentence to a definite 12 years. With his good conduct time allowance (GCTA) credits of 11 months and 15 days, Dela Peña’s served time exceeded 12 years.
The political prisoners’ support group Kapatid welcomed Dela Peña’s release. “We are very happy that Tatay Gerry can finally return home to his family and reunite with his wife Pilar in their twilight years. His release is a milestone for human rights campaigns, but also serves as a stark reminder of the obstacles that impede the release of political prisoners,” said Fides Lim.
“Tatay Gerry’s journey to freedom was very difficult because of systemic challenges and bureaucratic delays,” Lim added.
Dela Peña, the former head of the Camarines Norte chapter of the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (SELDA), a survivors’ group of those detained during the Martial Law regime of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., was arrested on March 21, 2013, and convicted of murder at the age of 75. Despite evidence supporting his innocence and the New People’s Army’s admission of responsibility, Dela Peña was convicted.