(Eagle News)–Was the “premature, reckless” announcement of the “impending” release of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Sanchez meant to be “a propaganda blitz to drumbeat support for the death penalty?”
This was the question posed by Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday, August 24, a day after the Palace clarified Sanchez, who was convicted of the murder and rape of Aileen Sarmenta, and of the murder of her friend Allan Gomez in the 1990, was not eligible for early release under Republic Act 10592.
The law, which was passed in 2013 during the time De Lima was justice secretary, increases the Good Conduct Time Allowance given to inmates.
Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said over 10000 inmates and Sanchez “may” be eligible for release after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the law should be applied retroactively to cover inmates who were given a final judgment prior to the law’s enactment.
De Lima defended the law, saying its intent–among others to decongest jails and help ailing and aging inmates—was good.
Without giving names, she said there were only some who wanted to “sabotage” the law.
“Pero, dahil sa kapalpakan ng ilang opisyal, sinadya man o hindi, pilit nilang binabaluktot ang tunay na diwa ng batas na yan…Ginalit na naman nila ang mga tao para mas katanggap-tanggap ang death penalty. Devious minds!” she said.