MANILA, Philippines – The Senate opened its investigation on Monday (September 2) on the aborted release of convicted murderer and rapist former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.
The investigation revealed that Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Nicanor Faeldon ordered Sanchez’ release on August 20 based on a release order he personally signed.
Senator Panfilo Lacson presented an alleged copy of the release order which granted Sanchez liberty due to good conduct time allowance (GCTA).
Faeldon admitted to signing the document but maintained that it was not a release order but a memorandum of release only to start the process of Sanchez’ GCTA.
“That is not the release order, because after my office it goes to different offices, and finally by the superintendent, to finalize the release of the person deprived of liberty,” Faeldon said.
“But in the process, I stopped it because I need to review again the good conduct time allowance granted to him,” the BuCor chief added.
Lacson then presented another document similar to a release order for the convicts in the Chiong murder case in 1997.
The document bears the signature of BuCor Technical Chief Superintendent Maria Fe Marquez, signed on August 16.
Lacson pointed out that the release orders for Sanchez and the Chiong slay case convicts were very similar.
When Lascon asked if the convicts in the Chiong slay case were released, Faeldon answered: “Yes, your honor.”
“E di pareho rin. Iyon lang naunang release kay Sanchez napreempt lang (So it’s the same thing. It’s just that the release (order) for Sanchez was preempted) because of the public uproar, but in this case, this one got away,” Lacson noted.
The Senators questioned why Sanchez was included in the lineup of beneficiaries under the GCTA when he was involved in illegal drugs after being caught in possession of illegal substance inside detention sometime in 2006 and 2010.
Faeldon argued that Sanchez is qualified for GCTA despite his multiple cases.
“Interpretation nila sa GCTA suspended sila if gumawa ng mali. In the succeeding month the granting resumes kahit gaano kabigat ang offense, (Based on the interpretation of the GCTA, they will be suspended if they commit an offense. In the succeeding month, the granting resumes regardless of how grave the offense is),” Faeldon explained.
“Kaya kahit grave offenses (So regardless how grave the offense is,) they are only penalized for 1 month. This has been the application (since) 2014 to this day based on this manual,” he added.
Faeldon’s predecessor in the BuCor, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, meanwhile, defended his former colleagues in the agency on the allegations of ‘GCTA selling’ inside BuCor.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra admitted that the GCTA Law should be reviewed to make sure that convicted criminals for heinous crimes would not be given the privilege.
Senator Bong Go, for his part, reiterated that there is no way Sanchez will be released citing directive from President Rodrigo Duterte. – MNP (with details from Grace Casin)
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