Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III bared that he has a photo to prove that convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez is wearing women’s clothes inside the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.
“Totoo yun, may mga litrato e, ipe-presenta ko yung photo,” Sotto said on Saturday over radio station DWIZ when asked about Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s statement that Sanchez, who murdered and raped Ellen Sarmenta and killed her friend Allan Gomez, is a changed man.
Dela Rosa previously said that former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Sanchez “deserves a second chance.”
“According to corrections officers, nagbait na daw. In fact, nakikita nila na nagpapalda na nga daw. So changed man na talaga siya. Changed man. Bumait na. Hindi na siga,” Dela Rosa said.
READ: Dela Rosa: Mayor convicted of rape, murder ‘deserves second chance’
Sotto later clarified that he has yet to confirm whether his co-senator was joking on the “second chance” remark.
“Siyempre hindi ko alam… kung ano sense niya dun. Kung nagpapatawa siya,” he said.
Sotto then reiterated his call to review the law, citing that he already filed a resolution to look into the implementation of the said law that provides the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) to prisoners.
READ: Sotto seeks review of law that sparked fear of Sanchez’s release
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra initially announced that Sanchez could walk out of jail soon due Republic Act 10592.
The GCTA gives additional time to be deducted from an inmate’s prison sentence as a reward for their good behavior.
Just days later, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Corrections said that the former Calauan, Laguna mayor was not eligible for the benefits of the law and will not be freed soon.
READ: DOJ, BuCor: Sanchez ineligible for release
Sanchez was meted with seven terms of reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment) for the rape and murder of Sarmenta and the killing of Gomez.
Sanchez’s security men, who were witnesses, testified that after the former mayor raped the student, Sarmenta was turned over to Sanchez’s guards who gang raped her. /jpv
RELATED STORIES:
Did money talk? Rape-slay victim’s mom asks amid looming release of convicted ex-mayor
Rapist mayor’s assets forfeited
BuCor chief: Sanchez ‘may not be qualified to go home’ yet
WHAT WENT BEFORE: ‘A plot seemingly hatched in hell’