FORMER mayor Antonio Sanchez died early Saturday morning, March 27, 2021, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag confirmed.

He said Sanchez was found unresponsive by his cell mates in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) at around 7 a.m. Saturday.

He was brought to the NBP Hospital, where a doctor declared him dead.

Chaclag said an autopsy will be conducted as standard procedure for sudden deaths.

Initially, Chaclag said there was no sign of foul play.

Sanchez was reportedly last seen alive at 10 p.m. Friday.

“There is no sign of foul play. He had existing conditions such as chronic kidney disease, hypertension, recurring gastro enteritis, prostate problems and asthma,” Chaclag said in a statement.

His kin have been informed, he added.

Sanchez, a former mayor of Calauan in Laguna, was convicted for the rape-slay of University of the Philippines Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her friend Allan Gomez in 1993.

He was also brought to the NBP Hospital in September 2020 for treatment of symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (From a report by Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo)