LIVE: Senate probe into GCTA law, possible release of Antonio Sanchez – Day 3

MANILA, Philippines — Senators are conducting the third joint hearing into the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance and the by now blocked release of convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez.

The hearings are led by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, along with the Senate committees on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes; Public Order and Dangerous Drugs; and Finance chaired by Senators. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Sonny Angara, respectively.

It comes a day after embattled Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor Faeldon was sacked by President Rodrigo Duterte for allowing the release of convicts of heinous crimes due to the retroactive application of a law expanding the Good Conduct Time Allowance.

GCTA rewards prisoners by subtracting a set number of days from their sentence for each month of good conduct. Their sentence is also reduced if they spend their time studying or mentoring other inmates.

The releases include three convicts in the 1997 rape-slay of Chiong sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline in Cebu.

In the past two hearings, the senators tackled the role of Faeldon on these releases and the proposed amendment of the GCTA law.

The family of former Calauan, Laguna mayor Sanchez, whose impending release is controversial, also attended the previous hearing last Tuesday to shed light into the alleged release order for their patriarch.

Sanchez 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.

Reports that he might be set free after serving a little more than half of his sentence because of GCTA spraked public outrage and led to the hearings.

Watch the hearing LIVE starting 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019.