Demetriou sees Sanchez going after kin of victims, witnesses if freed

Former Pasig City regional trial court Judge Harriet Demetriou said former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez should die inside the New Bilibid Prison.

The judge who sentenced Sanchez to seven terms of up to 40 years each is concerned that the former mayor would go after the families of his victims and the witnesses if he's freed.

Demetriou in 1995 convicted Sanchez and his cohorts for the rape-slay of college student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her friend Allan Gomez.

"That definitely mamamatay si Sanchez diyan sa preso. Hindi na siya makakalabas," Demetriou said to stress her belief that the convicted killer and rapist should spend the rest of his life in jail.

"I'm not scared of Sanchez. I don't care whether I get killed or not in process or not. But I fear for the lives and Safety of these people. Mga pamilya Sarmenta lalong lalo na yung mga testigo. Siguradong bebweltahan sila," she added.

Cardinal Sin meeting

Demetriou said Sanchez still held sway not only in politics but also among leaders of the Catholic Church.

"Maimpluwensiya siya not only to government officials but also to high-ranking members of the Catholic church. Mga bishops ka-alyado niya," Demetriou said.

Demetriou recalled an instance when the late former Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin showed her a letter from Lucena Bishop Pedro Bantigue.

"When I read it, the contents was Sanchez daw is a very good person. He's innocent daw of the charges against him," Demetriou said.

"Your Eminence, I cannot take this at face value. Sabi ko, 'Bakit ho nasasabi niya na si sanchez ay napaka bait na tao? Dahil ba sa donasayon ni Sanchez sa diocese nila?'" she added.

Demetriou said she told Sin that the bishop could testify as a character witness in court for Sanchez. "But he would be cross-examined," Demetriou said.

Bantigue has since passed on.

‘Travesty of justice’

Demetriou also pointed out how high ranking government officials said Sanchez could be released on account of good behavior.

"Here comes Panelo, here comes Senator Bato, here comes Faeldon saying he can get out on good behavior. That's a travesty of justice," Demetriou said.

She was referring to presidential spokesman Secretary Salvador Panelo, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa and Bureau of Corrections director Nicanor Faeldon.

The law on reduced sentences due to good conduct time allowances, Republic Act 10592, was passed in 2013.

Initially, it was meant to benefit inmates who were imprisoned after the law was enacted.

In June, however, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of petitioners who asked the High Tribunal to make the law's application retroactive or beneficial to inmates who went to prison before the measure was passed. —NB, GMA News