Bato says Antonio Sanchez a 'changed man'

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Thursday said convicted rapist Antonio Sanchez is already a "changed man" based on information he received from New Bilibid Prison (NBP) officers.

A former chief of the Bureau of Corrections, Dela Rosa said he was told that Sanchez is now wearing lipstick and skirt, and is already a calm person.

He, however, pointed out that he was not able to personally verify this, as he has yet to meet Sanchez face to face.

"Just to emphasize that according to the corrections officers sa Bilibid, although hindi ko siya nakikita personally, I never met him, hindi ko siya nakausap. Tinanong ko mga guwardya dun, nandiyan pa ba yung mayor. Sabi nandiyan pa, sir. Mabait na, sir. Di na siga, malumanay na, changed man na. Nakapalda na, sir. Naka-lipstick. So yun lang ang sabi nila. Ibig sabihin hindi na siga, mabait na," Dela Rosa said.

Asked if the officers were only using figure of speech, Dela Rosa said: "'Di ko ma-conclude. Yun lang ang report sa akin na nakapalda na."

Sanchez, a former Calauan, Laguna mayor convicted for the 1993 rape and murder of college student Eileen Sarmenta, is one of thousands of inmates eligible for the recomputation of good conduct time allowances on the basis of Republic Act No. 10592.

Justice Secretary Guevarra said Sanchez benefits from the Supreme Court ruling that made the effectivity of the law retroactive.

The Pasig Regional Trial Court convicted Sanchez of rape and murder for Sarmenta's death and of murder for the killing of Sarmenta's friend, Allan Gomez, in 1995.

Reports of Sanchez's possible release have sparked outrage, primarily from the family of the victims. —KBK, GMA News