By Argyll Geducos
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Thursday said he will ask the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to investigate how the family of former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez, who was convicted of rape and murder, were able to enter Malacañang premises without him knowing.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo (Youtube)
Panelo made the statement after he was cleared by President Duterte of his supposed involvement in the planned release of Sanchez, his former client.
In his Thursday press briefing, Panelo said he was surprised to see Sanchez's wife in February.
“We don’t even know how they were able to come. But my experience here is that, in Gate 2 hindi masyado. Kung minsan istrikto, kung minsan hindi (They are not strict in Gate 2. Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not),” he said.
“That's why they really have to be strict kasi minsan nagugulat ako bakit may tao diyan. Nandito, eh (because sometimes I get surprised that there are someone in my office),” he added.
The Palace official then said the PSG, the group securing Malacañang compound, had a problem with their security.
“I think the security problem of the PSG. Not us. Lax. Siguro yung (Perhaps it's the security that was) lax,” Panelo said.
Malacañang's security logbook revealed that Elvira Sanchez came to see him in his office twice. The first was in February 7 and then on February 21 when she came with her daughter and stayed for only three minutes.
Earlier, Panelo said that he would have violated the law if he chose to ignore the letter of the Sanchez family asking for a recommendation so their patriarch can be granted clemency.
Under Section 3 paragraph F of the said law, “Neglecting or refusing, after due demand or request, without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before him for the purpose of obtaining, directly or indirectly, from any person interested in the matter some pecuniary or material benefit or advantage, or for the purpose of favoring his own interest or giving undue advantage in favor of or discriminating against any other interested party” is unlawful.
Panelo also explained that it was the President's order to open Malacañang to every Filipino.