Pardon or Amnesty

After saying he will not accept a pardon, Joseph Estrada is now open to getting amnesty. But the Palace is saying it prefers giving a pardon over amnesty.

According to Dictionary.com, a pardon is “forgiveness of a serious offense or offender,” while an amnesty is a “general pardon for offenses, esp. political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.”

Meanwhile, Law.com Dictionary defines pardon as

to use the executive power of a Governor or President to forgive a person convicted of a crime, thus removing any remaining penalties or punishments and preventing any new prosecution of the person for the crime for which the pardon was given.

It defines amnesty as

a blanket abolition of an offense by the government, with the legal result that those charged or convicted have the charge or conviction wiped out.

So basically (correct me if I’m wrong), a pardon is forgiveness directed toward a specific criminal who committed a specific crime. Meanwhile, an amnesty is forgiveness for a group(s) of people who committed a crime, or a blanket forgiveness for all who committed a type of crime.

So which one should the Palace give, and Estrada should receive? How about neither.

A crime that big committed by a person given so much trust and power by the Filipino people should not go unpunished. That’s justice, and it should prevail.

3 Responses to “Pardon or Amnesty”

1. Jon Limjap says:

   September 17, 2007 at 7:01 pm

   Either would be detrimental to the perception of justice in this country.

   We need to show that we’re serious in punishing our criminals.

   Pardon or amnesty? Neither!
2. Prudence says:

   September 17, 2007 at 7:09 pm

   If pardon or amnesty is granted, then it says that the whole Sandigan Bayan court proceedings, hearings, and finally, decision, is just one whole mock show setup by the government.

   PGMA is showing off her peacock tail and feathers.
3. The Week That Was September 15 - 21, 2007 « Life & Work With Ria says:

   September 21, 2007 at 12:47 am

   [...] On Alleba Politics: Mindanao Blackout? – ARGH! Grrr Pardon or Amnesty – How about NONE OF THE ABOVE? Arroyo Orders Cabinet Officials to Attend NBN Hearings – Dapat lang! Abalos is not the COMELEC – How about the other people in that institution who are being paid by taxpayers? CHEd Call Center Lab: Another Controversy Brewing? – Something smells fishy! PinoyXPat Puts the Spotlight on our Senators – Know where your taxes are going After the Estrada Verdict – There’s more work to be done for the Sandiganbayan [...]