Law, not Rody nor Panelo, allows it

In 1995, the former Calauan mayor was convicted of rape with double murder and was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment for each term, but served simultaneously

The law and a Supreme Court (SC) ruling, not President Rodrigo Duterte nor his spokesman Salvador Panelo, allow the impending release of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez and other convicted personalities subject to the good conduct time allowances (GCTA).

Thus, clarified Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday as he stressed that the possible release of Sanchez and others under GCTA would come as a reward for their good behavior while serving their sentences inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

“It’s the law and the Supreme Court ruling that freed them, not PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte),” Guevarra said.

Guevarra also absolved Panelo, who served as one of the counsels of Sanchez in the 1993 rape slay of case of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and her companion Allan Gomez.

“I have no reason to believe that the intervention of any person, including Secretary Panelo, will be necessary,” Guevarra said.

“NBP records on good conduct of PDL (persons deprived of liberty) had been in existence before the Supreme Court issued its ruling on retroactivity of GCTA last June. The matter of computation of GCTA is therefore purely ministerial,” he added.

For his part, Panelo clarified that he withdrew as Sanchez’s counsel even before his appeal and cited Republic Act (RA) 10592 that would benefit his former client.

“It’s been 27 years since I was his lawyer. I withdrew from the case. Even before he made the appeal, I have already withdrawn as his counsel,” the Palace official said in a phone-patched interview.

Citing RA 10592, Panelo stressed there was no need for anyone to intervene or pull strings as there are provisions in the penal code Sanchez, or the 11,000 other prisoners whose paroles are now under review, could invoke to be set free.

Panelo, however, said that as a former counsel for Sanchez, he is happy that the former Calauan mayor will have the chance to start a new life after serving his prison term.

“As with any other lawyer, any lawyer would be happy that his former client is about to be set free. He has the chance to live a new life,” said Panelo, adding he has no contact with Sanchez.

“I wish him well. Just like other lawyers who’ve had clients who were imprisoned who are happy that they get to start over after their release,” he added.

In 1995, Sanchez was convicted and was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment for each term, but served simultaneously.

Earlier, Guevarra explained that the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is recomputing the GCTA of Sanchez and raised the possibility of his release because of a 2013 law increasing GCTA and a SC decision in June applying the law retroactively.

Guevarra, however, clarified that Sanchez will just be one of thousands to benefit from the implementation of the law.

The justice secretary also noted that the BuCor is processing cases starting from 1993 and BuCor Director General Nicanor Faeldon said around 200 PDL could be released per day.