NEWSFLASH

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ROBIN PADILLA IS FREE

Malacanang, April 8, 1998 - Actor Robin Padilla, the most famous inmate of the Muntinglipa National Penitentiary, is free. President Ramos granted Padilla conditional pardon and let him out of prison on parole.

Padilla's pardon was submitted by the Board of Pardons and Parole upon recommendation of Justice Undersecretary Presbiterio Velasco, acting Chairman of the parole board, last April 1.

Tagged as the movie world's "Bay Boy," he was eligible for parole as early as last December, but his lawyers' maneuvers caused a technicality that resulted in the delay of his release.

Padilla was serving time for illegal possession of firearms.

There are rumors that his release was facilitated to enable him to campaign for the ruling LAKAS- NUCD standard bearer Jose de Venecia, as he did for candidate Fidel Ramos in 1992.

Padilla himself, however, reportedly told friends that he does not plan to campaign for anyone and intends to proceed to Mecca for a pilgrimage immediately after his release. Born a Jehovah's Witness, Robin Padilla converted to Islam while in prison and married his longtime live-in girlfriend and mother of 3 daughters Lizelle Sycangco in a Muslim ceremony inside the prison.