It’s Congress call to amend law favoring Sanchez: Palace

Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said the executive branch could only abide by Republic Act 10592, which was passed in 2013 during the time of former president Benigno Aquino III. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Thursday questions on the legality of the possible release of former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez should be addressed to Congress.

Sanchez was sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment) for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her companion, Allan Gomez in 1993.

Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said the executive branch could only abide by Republic Act 10592, which was passed in 2013 during the time of former president Benigno Aquino III.

The law provides new guidelines on how to compute good conduct time, including a 20-day deduction for each month of good behavior during the first two years of imprisonment.

Last July, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a petition that the law be applied retroactively, meaning it should cover inmates, including Sanchez, who were jailed before the law was signed six years ago.

“There is a law. If he (Sanchez) qualifies under that law, then we cannot do anything. The best remedy there is you amend the law or repeal it. That’s for the lawmakers (to decide),” Panelo said in a Place briefing.

“Until such time that law is amended, susundin yan ng executive (the executive will follow it). The Palace cannot oppose a law. It can only implement a law,” he added.

Asked if he agreed with Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s remark that Sanchez deserved a second chance, Panelo maintained that he was not “emotionally attached” to his clients.

“As a matter of practice and principle, dapat hindi ka (you shouldn’t be) attached. That’s the opinion of the good senator, then I think he is entitled to (it),” said Panelo, who was one of Sanchez’s lawyers.

However, he explained how imprisonment is now reformatory, which provides reformed inmates a chance to start a new life.

“Ang pagkakaalam ko kasi yung (What I know is) imprisonment is reformatory. Unlike before (it was) punishment, vindictive. So following that logic, apparently the logic of the law is to give a chance to those who have reformed themselves and rejoined society,” he said.

Panelo, however, noted that he had no personal knowledge of what Sanchez was doing inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Meanwhile, he bared that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has ordered a reevaluation of the good conduct of persons in high-profile cases.

He said the committee in charge of reevaluating good conduct should consider Sanchez’s alleged infractions, such as his illegal drug use.
“When you say good conduct, there should be no infraction. Because even inside the Bureau of Prisons, there are regulations. So if you violate that, there is an infraction,” Panelo said.

The President’s spokesperson earlier denied his involvement in Sanchez’s impending release, saying he withdrew as the former mayor’s lawyer in 1995.

Guevarra said Sanchez’s release did not need the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte.