The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Saturday said it supports the Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision that former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez is ineligible to avail of Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) as he was "categorically excluded" from benefits provided under the law.
The DOJ made the clarification following reports that the ex-mayor, who was jailed for the rape and murder of college student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of Sarmenta's friend Allan Gomez in 1993, would soon walk out of prison as one of the thousands to benefit under the retroactive application of Republic Act No. 10592 or the GCTA Law.
"We support DOJ's stand on the issue as the law is categorical in excluding recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons charged with heinous crimes from the benefits of its coverage,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.
The secretary said that by that condition alone, the Sanchez "inarguably does not stand a chance of being released anytime soon."
"Sanchez committed rape and double murder. He was responsible for the death of two bright university students. Allowing him to get out early is a mockery of the law and justice system," Año said.
"Kailangan niyang panagutan hanggang sa huling minuto ang hatol sa kanya. He must serve his entire sentence. Kapag pinalaya natin ‘yan ng maaga, we would have punctured a hole in our own justice system," he added.
The Interior secretary explained that the GCTA Law "bans the convicted rapist and murderer from being released early as the stipulations of the same law prohibits his early release."
"He cannot be released on the basis of GCTA. On the contrary, ang GCTA po mismo ang nagbabawal na palayain ang mga kriminal na tulad niya," Año explained.
The DILG supervises the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which oversees city, district, and municipal jails across the country.
Detainees in facilities run by BJMP benefit from the provisions of the GCTA law. —Margaret Claire Layug/KG, GMA News
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