Antonio Sanchez Cause of Death: Former Mayor and Convicted Rapist Dies of COVID-19

^{Who was Antonio Sanchez?}

^{Antonio Sanchez was a Filipino politician who served as the mayor of Calauan, Laguna from 1980 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1993. He was also the convicted mastermind in the murders of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez, both students of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), in 1993. He was sentenced to nine counts of reclusion perpetua, or a maximum of 40 years imprisonment each, and ordered to pay 12.67 million pesos in damages to the victims’ families.}

^{How did Antonio Sanchez die?}

^{According to the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Sanchez died on March 27, 2021, at the age of 74. He was found unresponsive in his cell at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and declared dead on arrival at the NBP hospital. He was subject to an autopsy as per procedure on sudden deaths.}

^{Sanchez had chronic kidney disease, hypertension, recurring gastroenteritis, prostate problems, and asthma. He was also diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which was confirmed as the cause of his death by the Department of Health (DOH).}

^{What was the public reaction to Antonio Sanchez’s death?}

^{Sanchez’s death sparked mixed reactions from the public, especially from the families of his victims. Eileen Sarmenta’s father, Roberto, said he felt relieved that Sanchez was finally gone, but also wished that he had suffered more in prison. Allan Gomez’s mother, Iluminada, said she was glad that Sanchez could no longer harm anyone, but also hoped that he had repented for his sins.}

^{Sanchez’s death also reignited the controversy over the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law, which grants reduced sentences to inmates based on their behavior. In 2019, Sanchez was supposed to be released halfway into his full 40-year sentence because of the GCTA, but his release was aborted after public outrage and revelations of his violations inside prison. The scandal led to the revision of the GCTA rules to exclude heinous crime convicts and the suspension of GCTA grants to qualified inmates.}

^{What is the legacy of Antonio Sanchez?}

^{Antonio Sanchez will be remembered as one of the most notorious and infamous criminals in Philippine history. His case exposed the corruption and injustice in the Philippine justice system, as well as the brutality and impunity of powerful politicians. His case also inspired the passage of the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, which expanded the definition of rape and increased the penalties for rapists.}

^{Sanchez’s case also served as a catalyst for social change and awareness, as it sparked public outrage and protests against violence against women and human rights violations. His case also motivated the victims’ families and friends to seek justice and closure, as well as to advocate for reforms and accountability in the prison system.}

^{Antonio Sanchez may be dead, but his crimes and their consequences will live on in the minds and hearts of many Filipinos.}