UPLB Community: Ex-Mayor Antonio Sanchez must never walk free
By CJ Juntereal
Published Aug 22, 2019 08:51 pm
By Gabriela Baron
The University of the Philippines Los Baños University Student Council released a statement opposing the impending release of convicted rapist and murderer, former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.
University of the Philippines Los Baños (Photo courtesy of uplb.edu.ph)
"Sarmenta and Gomez were both UPLB students who were abducted and killed by Sanchez and his men, who is now currently serving nine reclusion perpetua terms, including two life terms for the politically-motivated murders of father and son, Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa." it said in a statement.
It added that a man sentenced to prison for nine lifetimes for 'atrocious' and 'hellish' series of crimes must 'never walk free' for mere 'decongestion' of prison.
"His ruthless and Machiavellian track record only proves how he is a danger to the public and must never be freed. Same goes with police forces who want to forcibly infiltrate our universities to "safeguard" the students but are continuously involved in heinous crimes such as these," the UPLB USC continued.
The Student Council added that the impending release of Sanchez only proves how 'rotten' the government institutions are.
"We call on all UPLB students, alumni, faculty, and administration to express our outrage at this preposterous outcome, let us exhaust all avenues to keep Sanchez behind bars." it ended.
Meanwhile, UP Office of the Student Regent also condemned the planned early release of the former mayor.
"The 1993 case has proven and convicted Sanchez and his goons, who are mostly policemen, guilty of the horrendous crime. He is expected to be released in the next months as his remaining time in the prison is being recomputed due to his 'good conduct' as claimed by officials and the police, in accordance to a ruling by the Supreme Court. This is despite the resounding proof of his highly questionable track in jail including a P1.5 million worth of shabu in his cell in 2010."
The student regent also questioned how Sanchez, who has been accounted for two other cases of murder, lives in a comfortable spot in prison with air-conditioning and a flat-screen television.
"We are one with the families of the victims, the rest of the UP community, and the people in demanding full justice of Eileen and Allan and not allowing the release of the rapist and murderer Sanchez,"
It continued saying that Sanchez' case is one of the many more cases proving that the justice system is 'rotting as ever' and only 'seeking to side with the oppressors and those in power'.
The Student Regent added that the 'broken system' shows the 'flawed' implementation of the death penalty and other laws that might 'target the poor'.
READ MORE: Under 2013 law, Sanchez has already served 49 years that made him eligible for release
"They're criminalizing human rights advocates and activists but they're letting rapists, murderers, and plunderers walk free," it continued.
It also condemned Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo and Senator Bato dela Rosa for their 'lack of recognition' for the gravity of the case.
"We will continue persistently demanding accountability from the government and just like back then, we will march and march for Eileen and Allan until justice is truly served." The Student Regent ended.
On March 11, 1995 Sanchez and his six bodyguards were found guilty in the killing of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. They were sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua.
READ MORE: It reopened old wounds’, says mother of ex-Calauan mayor’s victim
University of the Philippines Los Baños (Photo courtesy of uplb.edu.ph)
"Sarmenta and Gomez were both UPLB students who were abducted and killed by Sanchez and his men, who is now currently serving nine reclusion perpetua terms, including two life terms for the politically-motivated murders of father and son, Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa." it said in a statement.
It added that a man sentenced to prison for nine lifetimes for 'atrocious' and 'hellish' series of crimes must 'never walk free' for mere 'decongestion' of prison.
"His ruthless and Machiavellian track record only proves how he is a danger to the public and must never be freed. Same goes with police forces who want to forcibly infiltrate our universities to "safeguard" the students but are continuously involved in heinous crimes such as these," the UPLB USC continued.
The Student Council added that the impending release of Sanchez only proves how 'rotten' the government institutions are.
"We call on all UPLB students, alumni, faculty, and administration to express our outrage at this preposterous outcome, let us exhaust all avenues to keep Sanchez behind bars." it ended.
Meanwhile, UP Office of the Student Regent also condemned the planned early release of the former mayor.
"The 1993 case has proven and convicted Sanchez and his goons, who are mostly policemen, guilty of the horrendous crime. He is expected to be released in the next months as his remaining time in the prison is being recomputed due to his 'good conduct' as claimed by officials and the police, in accordance to a ruling by the Supreme Court. This is despite the resounding proof of his highly questionable track in jail including a P1.5 million worth of shabu in his cell in 2010."
The student regent also questioned how Sanchez, who has been accounted for two other cases of murder, lives in a comfortable spot in prison with air-conditioning and a flat-screen television.
"We are one with the families of the victims, the rest of the UP community, and the people in demanding full justice of Eileen and Allan and not allowing the release of the rapist and murderer Sanchez,"
It continued saying that Sanchez' case is one of the many more cases proving that the justice system is 'rotting as ever' and only 'seeking to side with the oppressors and those in power'.
The Student Regent added that the 'broken system' shows the 'flawed' implementation of the death penalty and other laws that might 'target the poor'.
READ MORE: Under 2013 law, Sanchez has already served 49 years that made him eligible for release
"They're criminalizing human rights advocates and activists but they're letting rapists, murderers, and plunderers walk free," it continued.
It also condemned Presidential Spokesperson Sal Panelo and Senator Bato dela Rosa for their 'lack of recognition' for the gravity of the case.
"We will continue persistently demanding accountability from the government and just like back then, we will march and march for Eileen and Allan until justice is truly served." The Student Regent ended.
On March 11, 1995 Sanchez and his six bodyguards were found guilty in the killing of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. They were sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua.
READ MORE: It reopened old wounds’, says mother of ex-Calauan mayor’s victim