MANILA, Philippines—The wife of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez suddenly found herself in a hot seat when she faced a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Sanchez ’s wife, Elvira, and four children appeared for the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the early release of heinous crime convicts, including the former mayor.
But public outrage stopped the release of Sanchez, who was convicted for the killing of two students of the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in 1993.
On Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s questioning, Elvira confirmed that she and two children, Ave Marie Tonee Sanchez-Alcid and Allan Sanchez, met with Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon at the latter’s office on August 21.
She said she requested for a meeting after receiving a text message from somebody on August 20 that the former mayor would be freed soon.
“Director, andito po kaming pamilya ni Mayor Sanchez to clarify things kasi kahapon ho narinig namin na lalaya na ang asawa namin because somebody texted me that he is about to [be] released,” Elvira said.
Members of the family of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez arrive at the Senate for the GCTA hearing on Sept. 3. INQUIRER photo / Marianne Bermudez
But she said Faeldon claimed no knowledge about Sanchez’s release and even informed her of his new “first in and first out” directive.
“Ang sabi ko sa kanya: ‘Director ano yung first in and first out. Ang sabi nya kung sino mauna na pumasok, sya ang maunang lalabas,” the wife went on.
She also recalled Faeldon telling her that if the former mayor was eligible for early release, he could be released within two months.
Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the justice committee, interrupted the wife and asked about the identity of the person, who texted her about the former mayor’s impending release.
Elvira reiterated that the phone number of the person who texted her was unknown.
Drilon pursued this point, and asked Sanchez’s wife anew about the number of the unknown sender.
“Dala mo ba ang cellphone mo? the minority leader asked.
“Actually nga po, wala na po akong cellphone. Kanina lang po,” she said, explaining that she already discarded her sim card after receiving death threats before attending the hearing.
“Hindi ko po tinanggal ang message, ang tinaggal ko po ay sim card ko at binato ko na po ang cellphone ko dahil sa sobrang galit ko na po,” she said.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III then asked Elvira to just provide the committee her number to trace the unknown sender.
“Pwde ng ma-trace yun,” Sotto said.
Drilon agreed with the Senate leader and told Sanchez’s wife: “Kung magsisinungaling po kayo, mahuhuli namin kayo e. Kaya magsabi na kayo ng totoo.” /jpv
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