Sanchez's wife confirms meeting Faeldon to clarify talk of possible release

MANILA, Philippines — The wife of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez, Elvira Sanchez, on Tuesday confirmed that her family personally met with Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon to clarify the news the former mayor's release.

During the second day of the Senate probe into her husband’s release, Elvira claimed that she received a text message from an anonymous source on the afternoon of August 20 afternoon informing her that her husband may walk free soon due to the Good Conduct Time Allowance law.

The anonymous text message, according to Elvira, prompted her and her children Ave Marie Tonee and Allan Antonio to visit the Bureau of Corrections and seek clarification from Faeldon’s office.

Elvira repeatedly said she does not know who sent the message, saying it was from an unregistered number.

She also told Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on Justice and Human Rights, who leads the probe on the GCTA law and possible release of Antonio, that there was no formal letter received indicating the release of the former Calauan, Laguna mayor.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Justice secretary when Antonio was being tried for the Sarmenta-Gomez case, then asked Elvira to show the text message proving she received information on the release. However, Elvira claimed she threw away her cellphone out of frustration over death threats she had been receiving.

“Kanina lang po, wala na ang selpon. Binasag ko po at tinanggal ang SIM card,” Elvira said, adding that she also deactivated her Facebook page.

(Just this morning, I no longer have a cellphone. I destroyed it and removed the SIM card)

“Hindi ko po tinanggal ang message, binato ko na po ang cellphone,” she added

(I did not delete the message, I just threw away the phone)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III asked the Senate secretary to obtain Elvira’s number and verify her claims.

Meeting with Faeldon

Asked regarding the meeting with Faeldon, Elvira claimed they visited the Bureau of Corrections on August 20 and 21 but they only managed to speak with the BuCor chief on the latter date.

Elvira said that she never met Faeldon before until that day.

“Nakipag-appointment po kami sa kanya. Una, ang sabi hindi namin makausap busy or may ginagawa,” Elvira shared.

(We wanted to set an appointment with him. At first, they said he couldn't meet with us because he was busy)

Elvira said they were granted the appointment with Faeldon after a wait of 15 minutes.

During the supposed meeting at Faeldon’s office, Elvira claimed he explained why her husband’s relese was halted.

'First in, first out'

“Nahold daw ‘yung pagpapalabas kasi nagkaroon siya ng bagong direktiba na ang lalabas ay first in first out. ‘Yan ang inexplain samin,” she said

(He said the release was put on hold because of a new directive wherein those who will be released are the first one in and first out. That’s what he explained.

Elvira added that Faeldon never gave assurance that her husband will never be released.

Asked when Antonio will be released, Elvira said Faeldon responded: “Kung qualified si mayor within two months,makakalabas siya.”

(If the mayor is qualified, he will be released within two months)

According to Elvira, Faeldon also volunteered the information that the Bilibid prison is already congested and there are 11,000 inmates whose release are being processed.

For his part, Faeldon confirmed meeting with Sanchez family.

He said he only told them about Antonio’s possible release in two months because they were crying.

“I had to tactfully say that the mayor will only be released if qualified,” Faeldon said in mixed English and Filipino.

Antonio was sentenced to seven life terms of up to 40 years of imprisonment for the rape and murder of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and her boyfriend Allan Gomez in 1993.

Elvira said the family is looking forward to Antonio’s release because he allegedly needs treatment for cataracts.

She said the convicted rapist-murder can no longer read.