Bureau of Pardons and Parole executive director Reynaldo Bayang revealed that Salvador Panelo referred convicted rapist Sanchez’s executive clemency.
Bayang said that the presidential spokesperson and president’s chief legal counsel wrote him a recommendation letter on convicted rapist Sanchez’s executive clemency.
Bayang read Panelo’s letter at the senate’s hearing on the GCTA Law:
“In line with the President’s commitment for good governance, transparency, and immediate action on the matters that affect the welfare of the people, we are referring this matter to your good office for your evaluation and whatever appropriate action you may want to undertake under the premises,” the letter said.
“We request that your good office update us for record purposed and for whatever action this office may want to undertake consistent with the law and the policy of the President for good government,” it added.
In an earlier statement, Panelo denied his involvement in the ex-mayor Antonio Sanchez’s early release under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.
It was remembered that Panelo served as Sanchez’s lawyer during the trial of the University of the Philippines Los Baños students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez murder case in 1993.
Panelo when asked if Sanchez should be freed said, “If the law as it is crafted says that all the inmates who are qualified to be released, then that’s what the law says and we have to as we always repeatedly say, there is the rule of law and we have to abide by the rule of law.”
Panelo also said that he would be happy if his former client would be released.
“Well, gaya ng mafi-feel ng sinumang dati nag-abogado, matutuwa isang abogado na yung kliyente niya 27 years ago makakalaya na, magkakaroon na ng kanyang bagong buhay,” he said.
Panelo referred convicted rapist Sanchez’s executive clemency
It was only on August 23 when Panelo said that Eileen Sarmenta’s rapist-killer not illegible for release.
“Mr. Sanchez under Republic Act 10592 is not eligible so the President, as chief enforcer of the law, will have to follow the law,” Panelo says.