SC lowers indemnity in slays of 2 UP studes

The Supreme Court lowered by at least P2.3 million yesterday the indemnity which former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez and six others, convicted for the 1993 rape-slay of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of fellow student Allan Gomez, should pay each to the families of the two victims.

The High Court, in a 13-page resolution penned by Justice Jose Melo, said the P6.2-million indemnity it imposed in its January 1999 decision was "excessive." The amount is now lowered to P3.9 million for each of the convicts.

But the tribunal said the life terms which former Pasig Regional Trial Court Judge Harriet Demetriou had meted on Sanchez and co-convicts George Medialdea, Zoilo Ama, Baldwin Brion, brothers Luis and Rogelio Corcolon and Pepito Kawit, stay. — Delon Porcalla