Antonio Sanchez does not deserve a second chance – VP Robredo

Convicted rapist and murdered Antonio Sanchez should not be given a second chance, as his jail sentence was itself a chance at redemption, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said Sunday.

"Talagang naniniwala ako na dapat binibigyan ng second chance 'yung mga nagkasala, pero eto, 'yung gaya nitong kaso ni Mayor Sanchez, hindi naman to elligible bigyan ng second chance," Robredo said during her weekly radio show.

"Kasi 'yung pagkakulong sa kanya 'yun na 'yung chance niya mag-reform," she elaborated.

A recent Supreme Court decision gave a retroactive application to Republic Act 10592, which entitles select inmates reduced prison terms.

Among those who could have possibly benefited from the SC decision was former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Sanchez, but Malacañang has since denied this.

Sanchez was convicted for the 1993 rape and murder of University of the Philippines -Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her friend Allan Gomez.

In 1995, he was sentenced to seven counts of reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for 30 to 40 years), and in 1999 the SC upheld the Pasig Court's ruling.

"Eto si Mayor Sanchez nakulong, ilang beses nahulihan ng drugs, ng shabu, ilang beses na maraming violations," said Robredo.

"'Yung sakin lang, dapat yung panahon niya sa loob ito na yung panahon niya para mag-reform," she added. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News