Senators yesterday slammed Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon following reports that he signed the release order of convicted rapist and murderer former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.
“Bakit lahat ng malipatan nitong official na ito may iskandalo? Saan kaya siya sunod ililipat?” Senate President Vicente Sotto III wrote on Twitter.
Sotto was referring to Faeldon, who was Bureau of Customs chief when P6.4-billion in illegal drugs was smuggled from China to the country in May 2017.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian fumed over Faeldon’s alleged approval of Sanchez’s early release from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.
“I don’t know what to say sa galit ko! Pinalabas ni Faeldon ang R6.4 (billion) worth of illegal drugs sa BoC, ngayon naman, pinalabas niya isang rapist sa BuCor. Bakit na sa gobyerno pa itong tao na ito,” Gatchalian also tweeted.
A television report said documents showed Faeldon signing the release order of Sanchez, convicted for the rape and killing of University of the Philippines students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez in 1993. Sanchez was supposed to serve seven life sentences of up to 40 years each.
But the document, dated Aug. 20, 2019, reportedly stated that Sanchez already spent the maximum penalty because of the retroactive application of the Republic Act No. 10592, which allowed the deduction of his prison term due to good conduct.
Faeldon had earlier denied having signed a release order for Sanchez despite his family claiming that the rape-slay convict was scheduled to be freed last Aug. 20.
Meanwhile, the BuCor will bring back the 1,914 heinous crime prisoners who were released as ordered by Malacañang.
BuCor spokesperson Sonny del Rosario said that they will implement the order. “Susundin natin,” Del Rosario said.
Data provided by BuCor showed that from 2014 to present, 22,049 prisoners with good conduct time allowance, including 1,914 who committed heinous crimes, have been released.
Of the 1,914 heinous crime prisoners who were released, 797 committed murder, 758 for rape, 274 for robbery with violence or intimidation, 48 for dangerous drugs, 29 for parricide, five for kidnapping with illegal detention, and three for destructive arson. (Vanne Terrazola with a report from Jonathan Hicap)