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Ex-judge, victims' families reunite 2 decades after Sanchez rape-slay conviction

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Michael Joe Delizo, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1383602" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA — Tight hugs and warm smiles filled the room when a retired judge met again with parents of slain college students whose killers she sent to prison 24 years ago.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Harriet Demetriou, the retired judge who convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez, and Sen. Franklin Drilon meet with Sarmenta and Gomez families in Makati City. <a href="https://t.co/60uUUQgnaE">pic.twitter.com/60uUUQgnaE</a></p>— Michael Joe Delizo (@michael_delizo) <a href="https://twitter.com/michael_delizo/status/1170195019497558017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>On Saturday, former Pasig Regional Trial Court judge Harriet Demetriou crossed paths again with mothers of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez more than 2 decades after the conviction of their killer, then Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.</p><p>The reunion came amid controversy over Sanchez&#x27;s bid for early release. His plea for executive clemency has been rejected, while his release on good conduct was held back amid questions on his eligibility and public uproar.</p><p>During Saturday&#x27;s reunion at a Makati City restaurant, Ma. Clara Sarmenta and Iluminada Gomez, mothers of Eileen and Allan respectively, were excited upon seeing Demetriou.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/21/19/the-pain-came-back-eileen-sarmentas-mom-hits-ex-mayors-upcoming-release">&#x27;The pain came back&#x27;: Eileen Sarmenta&#x27;s mom hits ex-mayor&#x27;s upcoming release</a></li></ul><p>The reunion, initiated by Demetriou, was somewhat bittersweet as they relived memories of their fight to convict Sanchez and his cohorts for the 1993 case.</p><p>It took Demetriou 16 months of trial before convicting Sanchez and his 6 bodyguards for the crime she described as a &quot;plot seemingly hatched in hell.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iGKu9ZDTbfI?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Sarmenta was known to have been raped by Sanchez and, later, his men, then shot in the face, while Gomez was tortured then killed.</p><p>Demetriou came out of retirement last August to speak out against the government as news of Sanchez being released early over &quot;good behavior&quot; surfaced.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/29/19/rapist-killer-sanchez-nearly-released-with-welcome-party-waiting-solon">Rapist-killer Sanchez nearly released with &#x27;welcome party waiting&#x27;: solon</a></li></ul><p>The government backtracked following public outrage, saying Sanchez was disqualified from the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) rule over prison violations.</p><p>These include the P1.5-million worth of illegal drugs found in his cell in 2010.</p><p>President Rodrigo Duterte did not allow Sanchez&#x27;s release and on Wednesday, he <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/19/duterte-wants-bucor-chief-faeldon-to-resign">fired</a> Nicanor Faeldon as Bureau of Corrections chief for setting free some 2,000 heinous crime convicts.</p><p>He has <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/19/duterte-orders-freed-heinous-crime-convicts-under-gcta-law-to-surrender">ordered</a> those prisoners to surrender in 15 days or face warrantless arrest.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/05/19/witness-good-conduct-time-allowance-being-sold-by-bucor-execs">Witness: Good conduct time allowance being sold by BuCor execs</a></li></ul>

<p>On Saturday, former Pasig RTC judge Harriet Demetriou crossed paths again with mothers of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez more than 2 decades after the conviction of then-Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.</p>

On Saturday, former Pasig RTC judge Harriet Demetriou crossed paths again with mothers of UPLB students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez more than 2 decades after the conviction of then-Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez.

Ex-judge, victims' families reunite 2 decades after Sanchez rape-slay conviction

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Ex-judge, victims' families reunite 2 decades after Sanchez rape-slay conviction

Michael Joe Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 07, 2019 05:13 PM PHT

|

Updated September 07, 2019 09:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Harriet Demetriou

Antonio Sanchez

Eileen Sarmenta

Allan Gomez

GCTA

University of the Philippines Los Baños

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