DOJ chief: Palace request was to defer processing of Sanchez case

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday pointed out that Malacanang requested that the processing of convicted former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez’ case for possible early release be put on hold while a thorough study is being conducted.

Guevarra made the remark after Senator Christopher “Bong” Go bared that President Rodrigo Duterte tasked the justice secretary and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon to block the release Sanchez.

READ:Duterte to DOJ, BuCor: Don’t release Sanchez

Sanchez was convicted for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines – Los Banos student Eileen Sarmenta and death of her school mate Allan Gomez in 1993.

Sanchez was likewise convicted for the murder of political leader Nelson Peñalosa and his son, Rickson.

“The request that I received from Malacañang was to hold the processing of Mayor Sanchez’s case until all the factual and legal issues have been fully threshed out,” Guevarra told reporters.

Aside from the nine reclusion perpetua sentences meted on Sanchez, he was caught twice with illegal substance while inside prison – marijuana in 2006 and P1.5 million worth of shabu in 2010.

Last week, Guevarra explained that they still have to determine whether or not a convict such as Sanchez is covered by RA 10592, which shaves off years from an inmate’s sentence due to good behavior. /gsg