By CZARINA NICOLE ONG-KI
Former Calauan, Laguna Mayor Antonio L. Sanchez, who was convicted for the death of University of the Philippines (UP) students Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez, was found dead in his cell at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City Saturday. He was 72.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag ruled out any foul play, saying Sanchez already had pre-existing medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, hypertension, recurring gastroenteritis, prostate problems, and asthma.
“Today at about 7 a.m., PDL (Person Deprived of Liberty) Antonio Sanchez was found unresponsive at his cell. He was brought to the NBP Hospital by his cellmates and was attended to by medical staff. He was declared DOA (dead on arrival) and subject for autopsy as per procedure on sudden deaths,” said Chaclag.
“His next of kin was also informed,” he added. Sanchez is survived by his wife and three children.
Meanwhile, Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said that the BuCor is still coordinating with Sanchez’s family for the conduct of an autopsy.
Chaclag said that Sanchez was last seen alive around 10 p.m. Friday while he was preparing to sleep. When his cellmates tried waking him up Saturday morning, he was already unresponsive. “There is no sign of foul play,” said Chaclag.
In September 2020, Sanchez was admitted to the NBP Hospital after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. He requested to be transferred to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila it was denied as he got better and tested and negative for COVID-19.
Sanchez was sentenced in 1995 to seven counts of reclusion perpetua for murdering Sarmenta and Gomez. Sarmenta was also found to have been raped by the former mayor.
His name was brought to the forefront again in 2019 after it was reported that he was due for early release because of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.
The news caused public uproar, prompting authorities to reevaluate his case. They later discovered that he was not really qualified for release.
“As of the time of his death, Mayor Sanchez was still not qualified for release,” said Guevarra.
