Convicted rapist-murderer and former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez is escorted by a police officer as he walks at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City on Thursday, August 22, 2019. (Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande)
MANILA, Philippines — The members of the UP Student Catholic Action – Los Banos (UPSCA-LB) Alumni Association on Thursday said convicted murderer-rapist Antonio Sanchez “does not deserve the clemency of the law and of society” amid his possible early release from jail.
The association said the former mayor of Calauan town in Laguna has refused to acknowledge his guilt despite the conviction of the Supreme Court for the rape-slay of Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez in 1993, both of whom were students of University of the Philippines – Los Baños.
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“We firmly assert that he does not deserve the clemency of the law and of society. From the outset and to this day, he has never acknowledged guilt nor shown remorse over the gruesome and heinous crimes he has committed,” the group said in a statement.
“Despite proof beyond reasonable doubt, affirmed no less by the Supreme Court, he maintains that the real perpetrators of the rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez have yet to be brought to justice,” it added.
The association also demanded for a “public and thorough explanation” on the process of determining Sanchez’s eligibility for early release, as well as an evaluation of the former mayor’s conduct while in jail.
“We demand that there be a public, transparent, and thorough evaluation of his conduct throughout his incarceration including his involvement in drug-related activities, his flaunting of inordinate privileges in prison, and his defiance of prison rules and regulations,” the group said.
“We demand a public and thorough explanation of the process of determining his eligibility for early release, including the possible influence of government officials, and the lack of communication with the victims’ families. We call on the citizenry to actively take part in the struggle and fight for real and substantive justice for all,” it added.
Sanchez is one of the more that 10,000 inmates who may benefit from Republic Act No. 10592, which increased the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) given to inmates.
The GCTA provides additional time to be deducted from an inmate’s prison sentence as a reward for his or her good behavior.
READ: EXPLAINER: Bilibid inmates foretasting freedom with new Good Conduct Time Allowance rule