Rape-murder convict Antonio Sanchez would be “ineligible and disqualified” from availing the benefits of a law that allows reduced jail time for inmates with good behavior, a Palace official said Friday.
In the wake of public outrage over the reported impending release of Sanchez, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo has echoed the opinion of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that heinous crime convicts would not qualify under Republic Act No. 10592 on good conduct time grants.
“A review of Republic Act No. 10592 or the law on Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), which amends the Revised Penal Code on the computation of the duration of imprisonment based on an offender’s good conduct, reveals that it is categorical in excluding recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees and persons charged with heinous crimes from the benefit of its coverage. This is the letter and the spirit of the law,” Panelo said.
“Thus, the inevitable conclusion is that all those convicted of a heinous crime, including Mr. Antonio Sanchez, would be ineligible and disqualified from availing the benefits of the GCTA. We therefore subscribe to the opinion of the Secretary of Justice on the matter,” he added.
The Palace also backed a thorough review of the GCTA of inmates to determine the qualified beneficiaries of the law, according to Panelo.
“We support his Department’s directive to the Bureau of Corrections to carefully and cautiously review the GCTA of persons who have been found guilty by the courts of having committed high profile, heinous crimes or crimes so grave that show extreme moral depravity,” he said.
He said while they understand the public sentiment on the law and its interpretation by the Supreme Court, the task of the Executive branch is “to merely execute what the laws as they stand.”
“We reiterate, however, that while the Executive Branch has no discretion in the implementation of the GCTA, the law still allows for the proper evaluation of inmates to ensure their proper coverage. Otherwise stated, while the Executive Branch is constrained to grant the benefit of the GCTA, it will only grant it to those who are entitled to such benefit,” he added.
Guevarra recently said the prisoners convicted of heinous crimes should be excluded from benefiting from RA 10592 that reduces prison term for good behavior.
The justice department earlier floated that Sanchez could be among the inmates who may walk free for good conduct. The Supreme Court has allowed the retroactive application of time allowance for the good conduct of inmates.
Sanchez, former mayor of Calauan, Laguna, was sentenced to seven reclusion perpetua or a maximum of 40 years imprisonment for the rape and murder of university student Eileen Sarmienta as well as the killing of her companion Allan Gomez in 1993. Following his 1995 conviction, he has been in jail for the past 24 years.
The possibility of Sanchez’s regaining his freedom has triggered outrage from the victims’ family, lawmakers and other concerned groups amid allegations of infraction such as illegal drug possession while inside the state penitentiary.
Panelo maintained that the mandate of the Executive branch was to ensure the faithful execution of all laws.
“The Executive Branch cannot oppose any of them nor can it arbitrarily choose a provision of law which it will execute or not,” he added.
The Palace, meantime, assured that the government is ready to cooperate with any planned congressional inquiry about RA 10592.
“We also welcome the intention of some lawmakers to conduct hearings in aid of legislation with respect to the current law on the GCTA. We assure that responsible officials will attend the same and assist them as they endeavor to craft better penal laws that are not only fair but are also morally sound,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
