MANILA, Philippines — Senator Franklin Drilon has expressed suspicion over the claim of ex-Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez’s wife that she no longer has the mobile phone that received the text message about the early release of her husband from jail.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday into the controversy surrounding the former mayor’s supposed release under the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law, Elvira Sanchez said she received a text message from an unknown number on August 20 saying her husband would be freed soon.
But when asked about her mobile phone, Elvira said: “Actually nga po, wala na po akong cellphone. Kanina lang po.”
She further explained that she had already discarded her sim card after receiving death threats prior to 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 added.
But Drilon, who was Justice Secretary when Sanchez was convicted for rape and twin murders, told reporters after the hearing: “I think that is very telling. Ibig sabihin ay may tinatago. Maliwanag naman na may itinatago siya.”
“The attempt to remove the text message is an indication that they are hiding something,” he added.
Sanchez was convicted for the 1993 rape-slay of UP Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta, and the murder of her friend, Allan Gomez.
He was sentenced to seven life terms or 280 years imprisonment for this case. /kga