Sanchez resurfaces, appeals for peace in Batangas

BATANGAS CITY — His voice cracking occasionally, Batangas Gov. Armand Sanchez appealed to his constituents to continue praying for peace in the province as he resurfaced yesterday following his near-death last June 1 in an explosion that ripped through his Hummer H2 sports utility vehicle.

"Batangas has seen progress in the last two years and we should not allow lawless violence to stop the momentum that we have gained," he said in a press conference at the provincial Capitol.

Attributing it to his "presence of mind," Sanchez survived the blast, which killed his driver, Louie Icaro, and police bodyguard, PO3 Eric Landicho.

Sanchez sustained second-degree burns on the face, ears and hands and sought treatment at the Makati Medical Center.

Meanwhile, Sanchez reiterated that he was in control of the provincial government all throughout his stay in the hospital and while recuperating.

"Contrary to reports that someone had taken over my position as governor while in the hospital, all documents pertaining to the provincial government’s transactions were brought to me regularly by my provincial administrator," he said.

"I am okay now and I am back to do what was left undone," he said.

Asked if he has any suspect in mind, Sanchez said, "I will leave the investigation to the police but I will give all the information to you (the media) as soon as they got one."

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, head of the special task force probing the blast, said they now have leads in the case.

"We are looking into three angles — political, (and the possible involvement of) anti-organized crime and leftist groups," he said.