What authority allows the President of the Philippines to suspend the execution of a penalty and reduce sentences?

The correct answer is based on the scope of executive clemency, which encompasses various forms of relief that can be granted by the President of the Philippines. This includes the authority to suspend the execution of a penalty and to reduce sentences. Executive clemency provides a means for the head of state to exercise compassion and address possible injustices within the justice system.

Other concepts, such as parole, refer specifically to the conditional release of an inmate before the end of their sentence and generally involve supervision. A pardon, while a form of clemency that absolves an individual of the legal consequences of their crime, does not necessarily involve a reduction of a sentence already imposed. Additionally, the term “President's clemency” is less commonly used in legal terms and does not accurately capture the formal process and authority defined under executive clemency. Thus, executive clemency effectively encompasses the actions mentioned in the question, making it the most accurate choice.