BuCor confirms death of convicted drug lord Vicente Sy

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) spokesperson Gabriel Chaclag on Friday confirmed the death of high-profile convicted drug lord Vicente Sy.

In a statement, Chaclag said Sy, an inmate of the Philippine Marine Corps BuCor extension facility, experienced cardiac arrest and died on Thursday evening.

Prior to this, Chaclag said Sy was rushed to the Philippine Marine Naval Hospital last July 27 after experiencing difficulty in breathing. He was administered with emergency treatment and hooked with oxygen inhalation.

He was brought back to his detention cell with prescribed medicines, Chaclag said.

On July 29, doctors from the New Bilibid Prison checked the condition of Sy and they diagnosed that the inmate suffered from stroke.

He also experienced several seizures while still at Fort Bonifacio but physicians were able to revive him.

On that same day, Sy was brought from the Philippine Marine Corps BuCor extension facility to NBP Hospital in Muntinlupa for further treatment, management and preparation for outside emergency referral to Ospital ng Muntinlupa.

However, he died around 8 p.m. on Thursday while waiting for an admission slot.

Chaclag said Sy's cadaver is already scheduled for autopsy.

Sy was among those who testified against detained Senator Leila de Lima over her drug-related charges.

Sy allegedly contributed P500,000 to De Lima's campaign in 2012.

Sy, together with high-profile inmates Jaybee Sebastian and Peter Co, sustained stab wounds following a riot at Building 14 of the New Bilibid Prison in September 2016.

Authorities said Sy was stabbed at the back and side during that incident. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News