By Fernan Angeles
CONVICTED former Calauan, Laguna mayor Antonio Sanchez may have grown tired of living inside a secluded facility. He now wants to be transferred elsewhere.
However, Sanchez, who is serving seven life sentences for rape and double murder case dating back 1993, claims to be severely ill, which he cited in his request for a transfer to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Citing an internal communication from the Bureau of Corrections, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the New Bilibid Prison Hospital is awaiting word from the PGH on the request.
A BuCor official earlier said Sanchez, who is over 70 years old, was brought to the hospital after showing flu-like symptoms. He has undergone a swab test for COVID-19.
Apart from this, Perete said Sanchez was diagnosed to have “electrolyte imbalance secondary to acute gastroenteritis, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and benign prostatic hypertrophy.”
The convicted inmate is also scheduled for more medical tests, Perete said.
Sanchez was convicted of the 1993 rape and murder of college student Eileen Sarmenta and the murder of her friend Allan Gomez. His conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court.
His name and the crime he was convicted of made headlines last year after it was reported that he was due for early release from prison on account of good conduct-based deductions to his sentence.