Convicted rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez will be transferred from the New Bilibid Prison Hospital to a referral hospital pending Covid-19 test result.
A Department of Justice (DOJ) official has announced that former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio Sanchez, who is serving seven life sentences for rape and murder, will be transferred to a referral hospital.
Sanchez with Covid-19 symptoms
Sanchez was previously brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) on Monday due to vomiting and diarrhea but was brought back to the New Bilibid Prison Hospital since OsMun’s COVID-19 ward was full.
Citing information from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete said: “He [Sanchez] was diagnosed to have electrolyte imbalance secondary to acute gastro enteritis, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, benign prostatic hypertrophy.”
“He is scheduled for further medical tests and has requested to be transferred to the PGH,” Perete, who also serves as DOJ spokesperson, added.
BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag explained that Sanchez being hospitalized is not unusual due to the inmate’s poor health. He mentioned that while the former mayor is currently in “stable” condition, the bureau is still waiting for vacancy either from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) or OsMun.
Chaclag said: “We will refer Sanchez again.”
The BuCor spokesperson also said that Sanchez had “severe symptoms” of COVID-19 due to diarrhea and vomiting based on his medical bulletin. He added: “As per our medical doctor, we are only waiting for go signal [for transfer]”.
Who is Antonio Sanchez?
Sanchez previously served as mayor of Calauan, Laguna and was convicted for the murder of University of the Philippines students Allan Gomez and Eileen Sarmenta. Sanchez raped Sarmenta while his men beat up Gomez in 1993.
During the proceedings, it was found that after he raped Sarmenta, he gave her to his men to gang rape and proceeded to kill both of them afterwards.
In 2019, his name made headlines after a report that he may be freed soon under the Good Conduct and Time Allowance (GCTA) guidelines.