After saying that rapist-murderer Antonio Sanchez “deserves a second chance in life”, Senator Bato dela Rosa stated today that Sanchez “should have been sentenced to death” back in 1995. Former Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez was convicted for the rape and murder of student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Allan Gomez in 1993.
Today, Dela Rosa told reporters that Sanchez’ crime was so heinous that he should have been sentenced to death when the death penalty was still in place here in the Philippines.
“Kung ako tanungin, bitay na dapat iyan noon. Galit na galit ako sa kaso na iyan,” he stressed.
Several senators have already spoken up on the possibility that Sanchez might be released after only 24 years of imprisonment. Minority Senator Risa Hontiveros, for one, pointed out that Sanchez is not qualified to have his jail term reduced because his good conduct in prison remains questionable. This is referring to the time when Sanchez was caught hiding 1.5 million pesos worth of shabu inside a statue of the Virgin Mary back in 2010. He was also caught with a flat-screen TV and airconditioning in his cell in 2015.
