Mothers of Sarmenta, Gomez: ‘Sanchez can never be reformed’

MANILA, Philippines — Former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez can never be reformed as it is in his character to commit a gruesome crime, the mothers of slain University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez said on Friday.

“I don’t think so, parang pagkatao na niya ‘yun eh,” Ma. Clara Sarmenta, the mother of Eileen, said in an interview over ANC’s “Early Edition” when asked about her opinion whether Sanchez should be given a “second chance” and be reformed.

“Wala, wala talagang pagbabago,” Iluminada Gomez, Allan’s mother, echoed Ma. Clara’s sentiment.

It was earlier reported that Sanchez may be one of the more than 10,000 prisoners to be released soon, as they would benefit from Republic Act 10592 or the law that increased the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) given to inmates.

Sanchez, along with six others, was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua (or up to 40 years of imprisonment) for the gang-rape and murder of Eileen and the killing of her friend Allan.

READ: Antonio Sanchez, more than 10k other inmates to get out of prison ‘soon’

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who was a former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief, said Sanchez “deserves a second chance.”

Dela Rosa also said that while he was BuCor chief, he did not receive any “adverse” or derogatory” reports against Sanchez.

READ: Dela Rosa: Mayor convicted of rape, murder ‘deserves second chance’

“My regret is, we have fought so hard for this case and we got justice for it. And then ganun lang ang kahihinatnan sa tinakbo-takbo ng panahon,” Iluminda said.

“Ano ang gusto nila doon [mangyari]? So no, no, no,” Iluminada added.

But with current BuCor chief Nicanor Faeldon’s latest statement that Sanchez may not go home after all, Ma. Clara said, with relief, that their pleas “did not fall on deaf ears.”

READ: BuCor chief: Sanchez ‘may not be qualified to go home’ yet

“We just couldn’t, we just don’t want to. Mahirap nga na sana, yung akin, ang plea ko lang naman noon ay sana pag-aralan nila ng mabuti. At least it did not fall into deaf ears,” Ma. Clara said.

“At least ngayon pinag-aralan nila mabuti, it’s just an eye opener.”   /muf