Pardon sought for Filipinos

Pardon sought for Filipinos

MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday asked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to pardon five Filipino sailors serving lengthy prison terms in the Middle East country.

He said in a letter to Mubarak that Jaime Dingding, Damian Antang, Orencio Trinidad, Angelito Monares and Bernardo Alfonso "have already served more than 13 years of their prison term" at the Al-Kanater central jail.

The presidential palace did not say what crime they had been convicted of.

Ramos stressed that all five have families left behind in the Philippines, and implored Mubarak to grant "the ultimate act of compassion -- the reuniting of a separated family."

"Such an act of friendship will surely help cement what are already strong bonds of friendship between our countries," he added.