‘3 convicted Sanchez henchmen in rape-slay case already dead’

MANILA, Philippines – Three of he six henchmen of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez who were likewise convicted for the murder of two college students have died while serving their sentence, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Nicanor Faeldon said during a Senate hearing on Monday.

Faeldon identified the three Sanchez henchmen who have died as George Medialdea, Rogelio Corcolon and Zolio Ama.

Faeldon, however, could not specify the cause of death of the three convicts.

“I will find out,” Faeldon assured Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee which conducted Monday’s hearing on the implementation of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law.

The reported impending early release of Sanchez, supposedly due to good behavior through the GCTA) law sparked public outrage.

Sanchez and his six henchmen were convicted for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines – Los Banos student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her schoolmate Allan Gomez in 1993.

The BuCor and the Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said that thousands of inmates, including Sanchez, may benefit from the GCTA law.

But after the public outcry, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra suspended the processing of the early release for good conduct of the said inmates. /gsg