Former Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez was convicted for the rape and murder of student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez in 1993. He was sentenced to 7 terms of reclusion perpetua (40 years) on March 11, 1995. However, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa says Sanchez might be released after only 24 years of imprisonment because he “deserves a second chance in life”.
His full statement was as follows: “If it is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole that he deserves that commutation, then why not? He deserves a second chance in life.” Dela Rosa also claims that Sanchez has changed in prison and become a better man. He cites that corrections officers have seen Sanchez wearing skirts, apparently proving that he is indeed a changed man.
However, while Dela Rosa says that Sanchez might be released because of good conduct, this goes against the time when Sanchez was caught hiding 1.5 million pesos worth of shabu inside a statue of Mama Mary back in 2010. He was also caught with a flat-screen TV and airconditioning in his cell in 2015.
