(Eagle News)–Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, Sept. 4, said the fact that he did not recommend former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez for executive clemency meant he had distanced himself from the issue.
Panelo, Sanchez’s former counsel, said in an interview over CNN Philippines that Sanchez also failed to secure a recommendation from President Rodrigo Duterte and from Senator Bong Go despite a letter of request for the same from the former mayor’s daughter, Marie Antonelvie.
Panelo said he merely referred the letter to the Board of Pardons and Parole, which eventually denied Sanchez’s bid due to the gravity of crimes committed.
Sanchez was convicted of the killing and rape of Eileen Sarmenta and of the murder of her friend, Allan Gomez, in the 1990s.
“With the very fact precisely of referral is already telling them that I’m not touching your case, that’s very clear,” Panelo said.
He said the referral was actually in compliance with Section 3(f) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which penalizes a government official or employee for neglecting or refusing, without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him so as to obtain pecuniary or material benefit, favor his own interest or give undue advantage to or discriminate against any other party.
Panelo added that while he did meet with Sanchez’s family twice in February in the Palace, these were all recorded.
“If I met with them elsewhere eh puwedeng may niluluto kayo whatever. The fact alone na opisina, na hindi ko nga alam na nandoon sila, kinausap ko lang, para sa akin walang problema doon,” Panelo said.
Panelo, Sanchez’s former counsel, has already denied any hand in the near-release of the former mayor.
Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon has said he has ordered a stop to the process of release.