The Department of the Interior and Local Government has expressed overwhelming support to the position of the Department of Justice that former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez is “ineligible to avail of Good Conduct Time Allowance because he is categorically excluded to benefit under the law’s coverage.’’
Critics – mostly human rights groups and including the families of the slain victims Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez – were outraged by reports that Sanchez may avail himself of the clemency that would benefit thousands of inmates under the provisions of Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA Law.
The GCTA law provides guidelines on how to compute the GCTA of an inmate which is deducted from his or her total sentence.
“We support DoJ’s stand on the issue as the law is categorical in excluding recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes from the benefits of its coverage,” said DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año.
He noted by that condition alone, Sanchez, who was convicted for raping and murdering University of the Philippines-Los Baños graduating student Sarmenta and killing another UPLB student Gomez in 1993, inarguably does not stand a chance of being released anytime soon.
“Sanchez committed rape and double murder. He was responsible for the death of two bright university students. Allowing him to get out early is a mockery of the law and justice system,” he added.
“He must serve his entire sentence. Kapag pinalaya natin ‘yan ng maaga, we would have punctured a hole in our own justice system,” he noted.
The DILG chief explained “that the GCTA Law, in fact, bans the convicted rapist and murderer from being released early as the stipulations of the same law prohibits his early release.’’
“He cannot be released on the basis of GCTA. On the contrary, ang GCTA po mismo ang nagbabawal na palayain ang mga kriminal na tulad niya,” he stressed. (Chito Chavez)
