Drilon seeks inquiry on status of Antonio Sanchez's bodyguards

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon seeks to know the status of Antonio Sanchez’s bodyguards who were convicted along with the former Calauan mayor for the rape-murder of Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez in 1993.

"Hindi lang si Sanchez ang involved sa Eileen Sarmenta at Gomez [case]. ‘Yung anim na bodyguard, nakawala na ba?“ Drilon asked during an interview on dwIZ on Saturday. “Yun ang dapat natin itanong kaya dapat ituloy ang pag-di-dinig na resolution na fi-nile."

Drilon filed Resolution No. 106 which seeks an inquiry by the Committee on Justice and Human Rights into the "reported eligibility of Antonio Sanchez for an early release from prison with the end in view of ensuring the proper implementation of, and enacting remedial legislation to, Republic Act No. 10592."

RA 10592 was an amendment to the Revised Penal Code in 2013 which provides for the early release of convicts through good conduct time allowances (GCTAs).

A recent Supreme Court decision applied the amendment retroactively, thus cases that were concluded before 2013 were also covered by the law.

Sanchez and his bodyguards were convicted by the Pasig Regional Trial Court in 1995. He was sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 30 to 40 years). The SC upheld the Pasig Court's ruling in 1999.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said thousands of inmates, including Sanchez, could be released within the next two months because of Republic Act No. 10592. 

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.

"Well, nasa chairman yan ng Committee on Justice," Drilon said. "[Kaya] dapat ituloy, dahilan sa hindi lang naman si Sanchez ang involved dito. Sinasabi nila na sampung libo ang makakawala, medyo that is a concern sa atin.” — John Ted Cordero/DVM, GMA News