(Eagle News)–Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, Sept. 3, admitted referring Antonio Sanchez family’s letter requesting executive clemency for the former Calauan, Laguna mayor to the Board of Pardons and Parole, but added this was what he did with all the other letters he received.
“And I refer all kinds of letters, the same. I don’t want to be accused by anyone that just because I’m a lawyer I would be not doing anything for an official communication, which as a matter of policy by the Office of the President is for me or this office to respond immediately,” Panelo said.
He also admitted meeting with the family of Sanchez over the request but noted President Rodrigo Duterte knew about the meeting.
He said the meeting took place after Sanchez’s daughter, Marie Antonelvie, sent his office an email on February 8 on the bid.
In a Feb. 26 letter, Panelo asked the BPP to assess the Sanchez family request in line with Duterte’s “commitment to good governance, transparency and immediate action on matters that affect the welfare of the people.”
He also asked the BPP to update him on whatever action “may want to undertake consistent with law and the policy of the President for good government.”
In a March 19 letter, BPP Executive Officer Reynaldo Bayang told Panelo the BPP had denied Sanchez’s bid, citing the gravity of the crimes.
Sanchez was convicted of the murder and rape of Eileen Sarmenta, and the murder of her friend Allan Gomez in the 1990s.