Martinelli pardon a malicious affront Electoral judge
ELECTORAL Tribunal (TE), Judge Erasmo Pinilla, was quick to react to the “pardon” handed down Wednesday, June 25 by President Ricardo Martinelli, describing it as an affront..
Pinilla is traveling, but through the TE spokesman Humberto Castillo said that the pardon is an “affront” to him. “I consider it an affront and malicious with the intent to offend, which it does” Pinilla communicated through Castillo.
No conviction has been recorded against Pinilla, who has been to target or frequent attacks by and his asministrationr, although there are open processes,like a complaint filed by lawyer Jose Antonio Moncada, representing the pro-government movement Panama Avanza, run by a former presidential spokesman and once the lawyer Honorio Quesada, for alleged breach of duties by public servants.
Clause 12 of Article No. 184 of the Constitution gives the President the right to decree pardons “for political offenses, and to grant parole to persons convicted of common crimes.”