Antonio Sanchez seeks transfer to PGH

Convicted former mayor Antonio Sanchez, diagnosed to have several conditions, has requested transfer to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, citing information from the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), 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.

The issue, which sparked public and official criticism, triggered authorities to revise the rules for granting prison time allowances.

As of July, the BuCor had recorded more than 300 COVID-19 cases, including 18 deaths, in two of its seven facilities nationwide.—LDF, GMA News