The judge who sentenced former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez for seven terms of life imprisonment revealed that someone attempted to bribe her with P30 million to acquit Sanchez.
Former Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Harriett Demetriou said someone on Sanchez behalf approached her when she was still handling the rape-slay case as per a report from ABS-CBN.
“There was this sculptor who went to see me, at sinabi niya: ‘Judge bakla si Sanchez, it’s impossible na he’ll be guilty of that thing’. So ang sabi niya, ‘You know Judge, pumunta na lang kayo ng America. Kumuha na lang kayo ng P30 million at saka para wala lahat na ito na kaso,” Demetriou said in the report adding that she refused to accept the offer.
“So I said: ‘May anak ka ba na babae?’ ‘Meron.’ ‘Eh anong gagawin mo kung ‘yung huwes na naglilitis ng kaso ng anak mo e tatanggap ng suhol?’ ‘Papatayin ko.’ ‘Eh bakit ka nagsasabi sa akin ng ganun?’” she furthered.
Sanchez, with his security aides, were convicted of rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez, students of University of the Philippines Los Banos.
But recently the DOJ announced that the former Mayor may be freed from prison soon because of good behavior making him eligible of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA).
The impending release of Sanchez sparked outrage from the public.
Demetriou has described the impending release of Sanchez as “mockery of justice” and a “cruel joke.”
President Duterte, according to Senator Bong Go, has since issued an order to block the release of the former mayor.
