The oldest political prisoner in the Philippines, Gerardo Dela Peña, has been released on Palace order. Photo from Kapatid - Families and Friends of Political Prisoners/Facebook

MANILA — Gerardo Dela Peña, 85, a political prisoner for activist groups and one of the country’s oldest Persons Deprived of Liberty, was released from the New Bilibid Prison last June 30, according to the Department of Justice. 

In a statement, the DOJ said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the commutation of the sentence of Dela Peña through an order signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The DOJ said Dela Pena’s Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) credits of 11 months and 15 days also paved the way for his freedom.

“I wish Mr. Dela Pena well as he embarks on a new journey of his life. This serves as a beacon of hope to other qualified PDLs,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said in the statement. 

Various human rights groups have called for the release of Dela Peña who was convicted of murder. 

The DOJ however said Dela Pena’s 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.

“This welcoming development in the country's corrections system is also part of the government's jail decongestion efforts in a bid to aid PDLs in their reformation and prepare their reintegration to society as better citizens,” the DOJ said.

According to human rights group Selda, Dela Peña was first arrested and tortured in 1982 and was again arrested and then convicted in 2013 on supposedly fabricated murder charges.