A convicted drug lord died on Thursday night at a military detention facility after suffering from stroke.
Vicente Sy, a high-profile inmate at the Bureau of Corrections extension facility at the Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, was first brought to the Philippine Marine Naval Hospital on Tuesday after experiencing difficulty in breathing.
Sy previously testified that he contributed campaign funds to jailed Senator Leila de Lima. He was among 10 New Bilibid Prison inmates who testified against the lawmaker in her three criminal cases.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Friday said the death of Sy will no longer affect the prosecution of the illegal drug trading charges filed against De Lima.
Guevarra stressed that Sy had already testified in the criminal cases and had also been cross-examined by De Lima’s lawyers.
“His death will not have any impact on the prosecution of the cases,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters.
Sy was administered emergency treatment, hooked to an oxygen machine, and returned to his cell at night. Two days later, NBP doctors from Muntinlupa City determined he had suffered a stroke.
“He experienced several seizures while still at Fort Bonifacio but was revived,” BuCor spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag said in a message to newsmen.
From the Marine Corps facility at about 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sy was brought to the NBP Hospital for further treatment, management, and preparation for outside emergency referral to Ospital ng Muntinlupa.
While waiting for an available slot for admission, Sy had another attack before eventually dying at around 8 p.m. His remains are scheduled for an autopsy.
