Majority of Senators said that convicted murderer and rapist former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez should not be released from jail.
Reports about the looming release of Sanchez on the basis his supposed good conduct in prison drew flak.
Sanchez was charged guilty and sentenced to 7 counts of life imprisonment in 1995 or 40 years of prison on the killing of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon wants to conduct a probe on how Sanchez became qualified under the law.
He was also the country’s Justice Secretary at the time of Sanchez’s conviction. Drilon said that he was shocked with the news that Sanchez will be out from prison soon.
“From the records it would appear that he has not changed at all, engaging in shabu distribution, 10 years after he was convicted in 1995. In 2006, he was charged with illegal possession of drugs…In 2010, he was caught again with P1.5 million worth of shabu concealed in a statue of the Virgin Mary,” Drilon told ABS-CBN News.
Senate President Tito Sotto also expressed his outrage over the possible release of Sanchez. He even underscored that Sanchez’ case could be the best argument in reimposing the death penalty.
“Seven life sentences, no indemnification, hearings for parole did not inform Sarmenta family. Best argument for death penalty?”Sotto said on Twitter.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said that Sanchez could not he released out of good moral conduct.
“Sanchez has shown no signs of remorse and displayed no effort at improving himself in behavior or character inside the penitentiary,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Senator Panfilo Ping Lacson on the other hand said that there is a need to amend the 2013 law.
“Aside from legislating a maximum of only 15% reduction for Good Conduct Time while in prison, there must be offenses that should not make the convicts avail of parole or pardon such as those committed with extreme gruesomeness like terrorism, rape with homicide, and the like,” he said.
