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Senator Leila De Lima questions announcement of possible release of convict Antonio Sanchez as propaganda to support death penalty

Senator Leila de Lima asked if the “reckless “ announcement of the impending release of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, was a ‘propaganda’ to “drumbeat support for the death penalty”

This, after Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said at least 11,000 inmates including Sanchez may be released from jail within few months after being entitled to have good behaviour inside leading him to be eligible of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).

“Was the premature, reckless announcement of the impending release of former Mayor Sanchez, a patently ineligible inmate under the GCTA Law, meant to be a propaganda blitz to drumbeat support for the death penalty?” De Lima said, according to CNN Philippines report.

De Lima, who is currently behind bars added that the law (RA 10952) must not be blamed as it has good purpose.

“Pero, dahil sa kapalpakan ng ilang opisyal, sinadya man o hindi, pilit nilang binabaluktot ang tunay na diwa ng batas na yan. Pinipilit na naman nila ang death penalty” the senator furthered.

Sanchez, who was convicted of rape and murder after killing a student of University of the Philippines Los Banos student Eileen Sarmenta and boyfriend Allan Gomez in 1993, may be released from prison.

But the impending release of the former Mayor gained outrage and opposition from the public and even on some government officials including law makers.

Staff Report

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