Antonio Sánchez

Antonio Sanchez (born 1949) was the mayor of Calauan, Laguna, Philippines who was the mastermind in the rape-slaying of Aileen Sarmenta and boyfriend Allan Gomez who were both students of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB).

Attempted cover-up

In 1993, Kit Alqueza, son of Gen. Alqueza was charged with being the mastermind of the slaying of Allan Gomez. Invited to a one-on-one dialogue with the then Vice President and Presidential Anti Crime Commission(PACC) Chief Joseph Estrada, he was led to a roomful of media people and accused before national television of the crime, without the benefit of a legal counsel and without being given the chance to defend himself. Even as PACC witnesses stated categorically that their allegations are false, Estrada and CISC's Chief Supt. Angel Quizon held on to their story. Significantly, it is suggested by observers and opinion writers that the contrivance was aimed to divert the focus from Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez who has been identified by witnesses as the principal suspect in the UPLB case. Panfilo Lacson who was the Chief of the Task Force Habagat of the PACC and Estrada's links with Mayor Sanchez (through the jueteng payolas, cars supplied by the duo to Sanchez, policemen identified with Sanchez who are with Presidential Anti Crime Commission(PACC), one lawyer for the Calauan respondents named Atty. Exconde who is related by affinity to PACC's bogus Col. Antonio Gana and Atty. Mar Arias who is said to have come from Estrada himself) are perceived to be the reasons. According to talks in the Upsilonian (Upsilon Sigma Phi) circle, PACC's Ike Gutierrez confided to a prominent Upsilonian that Sanchez had released P10 Million to Estrada, P10 Million to Lacson and P10 Million from media to draw the "heat" away from him. Lacson has attempted to foist fabricated evidence on the case. This has been rejected by the UP group which has closed ranks and vigilantly insisted on the pursuit of justice; especially the parents of the murder victims, who are rallying support for the Alqueza family. Despite rencantation of PACC's two witnesses Corcolon and Lavadia who claims he was tortured to extract false testimony against Alqueza, vehement denial by third witness Rose Molina of PACC's love triangle theory, and statement by Centino, driver of Sanchez, who pointed at Sanchez as the first to rape Sarmenta, Estrada and Lacson insisted that 19-year old Alqueza masterminded the murder by paying Lavadia the puny sum of P21,000 to carry out the murder.

The verdict

On March 14, 1995, the judge concluded the 16-month trial by finding Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez and several henchmen (some of whom were policemen) guilty of raping and murdering Sarmenta and killing her boyfriend. Sanchez is serving a life sentence for the crime.

External links

* [http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1999/aug1999/gr_131116_1999.html Mayor Sanchez et al. Verdict]