Solons reject Sanchez release
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:25:47 +0000
CONVICTED former Mayor Antonio Sanchez is accompanied by a fellow inmate as he walks at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. (Contributed photo)
The possible release of convicted rapist and murderer former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez sparked outrage among the public, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who questioned its grounds.
Sotto said yesterday Sanchez should not be freed as he believed that the rape-slay convict “does not qualify” as a person with good behavior.
He questioned Sanchez’s inclusion in those considered for early release over good behavior. He recounted the former mayor’s recent offenses while already in jail.
“Paanong naging ‘good behavior’ when in 2006, there was a complaint filed against him for possession of marijuana inside the New Bilibid Prison? In 2010, P1.5-million worth of shabu was found in image of Virgin Mary in his cell. Paanong naging ‘good behavior’ ‘yon?” the Senate chief asked.
If he was indeed cited for good behavior, Sotto said jail officers should have started computing after he was proven to have stopped with his illegal drug activities.
“In short, he does not qualify. Ganon ka-simple ‘yong usapan doon,” he said.
Sotto said he will file a resolution launching a legislative inquiry on Sanchez’s impending release due to and a review of the Republic Act No. 10592 increasing good conduct time allowance which was applied to the former local chief executive.
Congressmen are preparing a resolution urging the Department of Justice to defer the release of Sanchez until all issues surrounding his impending freedom are resolved, particularly the computation of the good conduct time allowance credited to him.
Reps. Claudine Bautista (Dumper PTDA partylist) and Eric Go-Yap (ACT-CIS party-list) said they expect the swift adoption of the resolution as they stressed that the public outcry against Sanchez’s release could not be ignored.
“Yes, I believe there is a need for the Department of Justice to slow down and consider the strong opposition against any decision to free the mayor,” Bautista told the Partylist Forum yesterday.
On the other hand, Yap vowed to file a bill that will amend Republic Act No. 10592 amending the Revised Penal Code by authorizing credit of preventive imprisonment and revision of the good conduct time allowances for persons deprived of liberty.
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the retroactive effect of RA 10592 that will now be applied on Sanchez. (Vanne Terrazola and Ben Rosario)