By Hannah Torregoza  An official of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) on Tuesday testified that presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo referred the request of the family of former mayor Antonio Sanchez’s application for executive clemency. At the resumption of the Senate’s hearing into the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, Reynaldo Bayang, BPP Executive Director 3, said Panelo sent the referral letter to the BPP early this year. In the letter, Panelo requested Bayang’s office to provide him updates about Sanchez’s case. “We write in reference to the letter dated February 8, 2019 from Ms. Marie Antonelvie J. Sanchez regarding the application of her father, Mr. Antonio L. Sanchez for executive clemency. For ready reference, attached is a copy of the said letter. In line with the President’s commitment for good governance, transparency and immediate action on matters that affect the welfare of the people, we are referring this matter to your good office for your evaluation and whatever appropriate action you might want to undertake under the premises,” Panelo purportedly said in the letter which was read by Bayang. “We request that your good office update us for record purposes and for whatever action this office may want to  undertake consistent with law and the policy of the President for good government. Thank you for your usual prompt and preferential attention,” the presidential spokesperson also said in the letter which bore the head of the Office of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel. Panelo’s letter, however, was a mere referral of the request letter made by the Sanchez family. The chief legal counsel, in his letter reportedly left it to the Board of Pardon’s and Parole to evaluate the request. Panelo earlier denied having had a hand in the release of the primary suspect in the killing of University of the Philippines-Los Baños students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. Panelo served as legal counsel for Sanchez, who was convicted in 1995 for the rape and murder of UP Los Banos  (UPLB) students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez. The Supreme Court upheld his conviction in 1999. Senator Richard Gordon was asking whether the Sanchez family lobbied for the release of the former mayor. Elvira Sanchez, the ex-mayor’s wife admitted they have asked prominent people to vouch for their husband’s good and moral conduct as he applies for executive clemency as they lobbied for his release. Mrs. Sanchez also admitted that she wrote President Rodrigo Duterte a letter asking his help, which she coursed through Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go was then a close aide of the chief executive. Other persons they sought for recommendation were former Supreme Court justice Arturo Brion, and former Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos and members of the Vice Mayors League of the Philippines. This prompted Sen. Richard Gordon to believe that the BPP could have been influenced into granting the Sanchez’s family their request for their patriarch’s early release from prison. “You have to tell me clearly, because we will have to delineate clearly that you cannot accept recommendations from politicians and from other people,” Gordon pointed out. Gordon said it cannot be discounted that Panelo’s letter to the BPP made an impact resulting to Sanchez’s inclusion in the 11,000 convicted felons that were supposed to be released early due to good conduct. (With a report from Rizal Obanil)