Ailing Abadilla convict renews plea for pardon

ONE OF THE men convicted in the murder of Martial Law enforcer Rolando Abadilla has reiterated his appeal to President Aquino for pardon, citing his failing health.

In a phone interview yesterday, Lenido Lumanog told the INQUIRER he was sent to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute by doctors at the national penitentiary because they suspected problems with his transplanted kidney.

“One of the doctors at Bilibid suspects my kidney may be failing,” he explained, adding that he was awaiting the results of tests to confirm his physicians’ hunch.

He pleaded to Aquino for compassion, reiterating that while the Supreme Court upheld their conviction a few years ago, he and his four other coaccused were wrongly convicted of the murder.

Lumanog asked Mr. Aquino to “please take a look at our appeal.”

“Please, Mr. President, help us,” he continued. “We’ve already suffered for something we never did.”

Lumanog has been battling a kidney ailment for nearly a decade and underwent a transplant in 2003. In the next eight years after the operation, he still had dialysis thrice a week since the new kidney barely served its function.

He recalled that after his transplant, his doctor told him the new kidney would be good for about 10 years of proper functioning, but this period could be shorter since the donor was not a blood relative.

Compounding his kidney problems were other health complications stemming from diabetes, hypertension, an enlarged heart and arthritis, he said.