De Lima: Was announcement of Sanchez' possible release a propaganda move for death penalty?

Senator Leila de Lima on Saturday asked if the "reckless" announcement of the impending release from jail of former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez was propaganda to drum up support for the death penalty.

"Was the premature, reckless announcement of the impending release of former Mayor Sanchez, a patently ineligible inmate under the GCTA Law, meant to be a propaganda blitz to drumbeat support for the death penalty?" De Lima said in a statement.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra meanwhile shrugged off de Lima's hypothesis. “Senator de Lima is free to think what she wants to think,” said the Justice Secretary in a message sent to reporters.

It was Guevarra who earlier said that thousands of inmates, including Sanchez, could be released within the next two months.

Guevarra said they were eligible for the recomputation of good conduct time allowances (GCTA) on the basis of Republic Act No. 10592 and a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that made the effectivity of the law retroactive.

While the SC distanced itself from the reported possible early release of Sanchez, Malacañang on Friday said convicts serving sentences for heinous crimes like Sanchez are not eligible for early release from prison.

Sanchez was convicted by the Pasig Regional Trial Court in 1995 for the 1993 rape and murder of University of the Philippines - Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Sarmenta's friend Allan Gomez. He was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 30 to 40 years). The SC upheld in 1999 the Pasig Court ruling.

Lawmakers and prominent personalities expressed concern about the possible release of Sanchez.

Vice President Leni Robredo said releasing Sanchez would go against the intention of R.A. 10592.

Senator Bong Go said Sanchez is better off in jail.

The relatives of Sarmenta and Gomez expressed anguish at Sanchez's possible release. Sarmenta's mother said she favors the return of the death penalty.

"Huwag dapat sisihin yung batas. Maayos ang layunin ng R.A. 10592. Pero, dahil sa kapalpakan ng ilang opisyal, sinadya man o hindi, pilit nilang binabaluktot ang tunay na diwa ng batas na yan. Pinipilit na naman nila ang death penalty," De Lima said.

"Mukhang sinasabotahe nila yung batas para isulong nila ang death penalty. Ginalit na naman nila ang mga tao para mas katanggap-tanggap ang death penalty. Devious minds!" she added.

In his recent State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte called on Congress to reimpose death penalty.

Four senators—Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, Ronald dela Rosa, and Go—have filed bills seeking the revival of death penalty. —With a report from Jamil Santos/KG/DVM, GMA News