translated from Spanish: Piñera: “A person condemned by DD. Hh. who is dying, should have the benefit of dying at home”

President Sebastián Piñera referred to the commutative pardon project that has caused controversy in Congress, after the initiative also excludes those convicted of violation of DDs. Hh.. The Government’s project, launched in the wake of the rapid spread of coronavirus, allows for a commutative pardon of sentences to seniors and risk groups, and thus obtain the benefit of house arrest, except for those who committed crimes Serious. In an interview with the Regional Association of Television Channels (Arcatel), content to be broadcast today, the Mandate noted that “this first bill excludes the most serious crimes, homicides, violators, arms trafficking, drug trafficking. (They) are not protected by this law which is intended for persons who have committed not the most serious crimes,” El Mercurio said. Piñera also added that “we also mandate a bill that is humanitarian (referring to another Executive initiative launched in 2018). People who are terminally ill, who are literally dying of serious illnesses or who are totally alienated, with Alzheimer’s, who are not valid, I believe they are entitled to a death with dignity. Not only the damned of Punta Peuco; this does not distinguish by crime.” A person who is convicted of human rights crimes,” Piñera added, “who is dying, who has weeks left to live, I think we should have given him the benefit of dying at home. That’s why the idea is to commute the sentence of deprivation of liberty for a sentence of total house arreto.” This will favor not only the people of Punta Peuco, (but) of all the prisons in Chile,” he said. The draft commutative pardon will have to be voted on next week and from the Executive they expect the project to be approved as soon as possible, although for that they need the support of a qualified quorum, i.e. 78 Members.

Original source in Spanish