FORMER town mayor Antonio Sanchez, a rape and murder convict serving his prison sentence at the National Bilibid Prison, is considered a probable coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient, according to Bureau of Corrections spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag.

Chaclag said Sanchez has been suffering from symptoms of the infectious disease, such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Sanchez, a former mayor of Calauan in Laguna, was brought to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa on Monday but the facility was full and he could not be admitted.

Sanchez is now at the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) hospital, waiting for a vacant bed in referral hospitals for Covid-19.

Chaclag said persons deprived of liberty who manifest Covid-19 symptoms are brought to referral hospitals because X-ray, laboratory and other services are not available at the NBP hospital.

“Stable naman siya ngayon naghihintay lang po tayo ng vacancy,” he added.

Chaclag said only patients with mild or no symptoms of Covid are being accommodated at the NBP quarantine facilities.

Several high-value persons deprived of liberty have died from Covid-19, including Jaybee Sebastian.

Sanchez and eight others were convicted for the rape-slay of University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños student Eileen Sarmenta and the killing of her friend Allan Gomez in 1993. (SunStar Philippines)