It recommends pardons to those convicted with insufficient evidence. Of the 2,375 cases submitted for review, the commission has heard approximately a third and recommended 310 for final presidential approval. This commission considered Ruiz's case in November. But a ruling could take months. Peace and Hope lawyers contend these reforms do not go far enough.
Torture is an ordinary matter of course.
Despite constitutional guarantees that the accused is innocent until proven guilty, terrorism trials reflect the de facto reality, he says. And since the Ad Hoc Commission does not overturn sentences but rather commutes them, terrorism still mars the records of those it frees. While Ruiz awaits the commission's decision on his case, he writes devotionals and leads the Christian community in Cellblock 1B of Castro Castro. And he prays.