Ex-Calauan mayor Sanchez tests negative for coronavirus

Murder and rape convict Antonio Sanchez shows his prison cell in this February 1999 photo. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez has been tested negative for coronavirus that causes COVID-19, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said.

“Negative ang swab test result niya,” Chaclag said in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday.

(His swab test result came back negative.)

Chaclag said Sanchez is still at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Hospital but he is already on stable condition.

“Pero meron pa rin siyang other ailments kaya confined pa rin siya sa NBP Hospital. Stable naman daw at recovering,” Chaclag added.

(But he has other ailments so he is still confined to the NBP hospital. He is stable and recovering.)

Sanchez underwent an RT-PCR test after he was tested positive for coronavirus in the rapid test. He also exhibited symptoms of the virus such as flu and shortness of breath.

“Wala ng dextrose,” Chaclag said. (No more dextrose.)

Still, he said Sanchez has been diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia moderate risk, acute gastroenteritis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said Sanchez will no longer be transferred to the Philippine General Hospital.

“His condition has improved, he will no longer be transferred to the PGH,” he told reporters.

Sanchez was meted with seven terms of reclusion perpetua (up to 40 years imprisonment) for the rape and murder of Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her boyfriend Allan Gomez in 1993.

Sanchez was initially brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa Monday evening but since the hospital has no more space for probable COVID patient, prison authorities brought him back to the national penitentiary.

Last year, Sanchez hogged the headlines after the DOJ announced he may be able to get out of prison by availing the good conduct time allowance program provided under the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law.

The controversy surrounding the grant of GCTA led authorities to review its implementation to exclude from coverage those convicted of heinous crimes.

A Senate inquiry into the issue also resulted in the revelation of other anomalies inside the NBP such as the “hospital pass for sale.”

JPV