After serving 16 years in actual imprisonment, an ailing 86-year-old man convicted of masterminding a murder in Cavite has been ordered released from prison after President Marcos commuted his sentence.

Rimberto Salvanera will no longer serve the remainder of his sentence of reclusion perpetua or maximum 40 years in prison. His security escorts at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute where he is confined were expected to be recalled by the Bureau of Corrections on Thursday (December 28).

Bucor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said Salvanera received his release order at the NKTI where he is confined due to a kidney problem.

Salvanera was convicted of masterminding the murder of one Ruben M. Parane on October 23, 1995 in General Trias, Cavite.

The alleged hitman, Edgardo Lungcay, was presumed to have been likewise convicted. Two other alleged cohorts, including the driver of the get-away motorcycle, have turned state witness.

Salvanera started serving the life sentence imposed on him on March 2012. He was 75 years old then.

It is believed that the actual time served already included his detention prior to the guilty verdict imposed by the Regional Trial Court. 5

Salvanera was actually meted the penalty of reclusion perpetua that would have required him be locked up to up to 40 years.

Last year, President Marcos ordered the commutation of PDL’s (person deprived of liberty) sentence to an indeterminate penalty of 20 to 25 years.

Prison officials computed the convict’s actual time served at 16 years, seven months and 22 days. He was also entitled to a good conduct time allowance (GCTA) that totaled nine years, five months and one day.

The aggregate period of time served and GCTO has reached 26 years and 23 days which is over the maximum commuted sentence of 25 years.

There was no explanation why Salvanera had to serve over a year more than what the Marcos directive had prescribed.