Faeldon says he signed release memo despite belief Sanchez is not qualified for GCTA

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) director general Nicanor Faeldon maintained on Tuesday that he does not believe convicted rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez should be released from prison for his good conduct even though he signed his release memo.

“It was never my opinion that he (Sanchez) was entitled (to the Good Conduct Time Allowance) law,” Faeldon said during the resumption of the Senate hearing on Sanchez's possible release and the GCTA controversy.

Senator Panfilo Lacson then asked Faeldon why he signed the memorandum for release when he does not believe it

The BuCor chief said the bureau’s legal team told him there was no legal impediment for Sanchez's release.

“The legal officer who is beside me and other lawyers of the bureau, I discussed this with them several times and they continuously reminded me that there is no legal basis to stop the release of Sanchez  because all the requirements for his release under the retroactive effect of Republic Act 10595 is satisfied,” he said.

He added his decision to stop the release was in fact against the legal position of BuCor.

“You can ask them that I have been pointing it out that he (Sanchez) may not qualify. I saw the kubol demotion in 2015 and under our  records,  I reminded them that he may have violated the  GCTA,” Faeldon said.

Lacson said Faeldon should not have signed the memorandum if indeed he believes Sanchez is not qualified. “There is some contradiction, ako when I was the PNP chief, if hindi ako naniniwala hindi ako nagsa-sign,” he said.

Faeldon insisted that the documents given to him were complete but Lacson reminded him that he is the final authority to approve or not the release of convicts. —KBK, GMA News