Duterte calls Panelo ‘Mr. Referral’ over role in Sanchez clemency plea

President Rodrigo Duterte tagged his spokesperson Salvador Panelo as "Mr. Referral" over Panelo’s role in forwarding the request of the Presidential spokesperson’s former client, convicted rapist and killer Antonio Sanchez, for executive clemency.

“Maupo po kayo. Salamat. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the Mr. Referral,” Duterte said ahead of his speech during a ceremony for outstanding government officials on Tuesday.

Others present when the President made the joke were  Ombudsman Samuel Martires; Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala; CSC Commissioner Leopoldo Roberto Valderosa, the 2019 Civil Service Commission Pagasa, Dangal ng Bayan, and Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardees; among others.

During the Senate probe last September 3, it was revealed by the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) that they had received a letter from Panelo asking the BPP to take action on Sanchez's request for executive clemency and requesting that the BPP update Panelo “for record purposes and for whatever action this office may want to undertake consistent with law and the policy of the President for good governance.”

The said letter was dated February 26, 2019.

Prior to the revelation of the letter, Panelo had denied talking to the family of his former client to secure an early release for Sanchez.

But after his letter was exposed, Panelo was compelled to admit that he met Sanchez’s family in the Palace, but nevertheless maintained that he did not work for Sanchez's early release.

The Senate probe was prompted by reports that Sanchez, convicted of seven counts of rape and seven counts of homicide, was scheduled to be released based on Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. — DVM, GMA News