Vicente Sy, a convicted drug lord who testified against detained Sen. Leila M. De Lima on criminal cases of alleged involvement in illegal drugs trading, has passed away.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Deputy Director General Gabriel P. Chaclag said Sy died last July 29 at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Hospital in Muntinlupa City after a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke this week.

“While waiting for available slot for admission at OsMun (Ospital ng Muntinlupa), PDL (person deprived of liberty) Sy experienced another cardiac arrest and succumbed at around 8 p.m. yesterday, July 29,” Chaclag said.

“Cadaver is scheduled for autopsy as part of our regular procedures,” he said.

Chaclag said that Sy, who had been serving his sentence at the NBP, had been transferred in 2019 at the BuCor’s extension facility at the Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Prior to Sy’s transfer to the NBP hospital, Chaclag said the late prisoner was “brought to the Philippine Marine Naval Hospital after experiencing difficulty of breathing of which he was administered emergency treatment and hooked with O2 inhalation on July 27 at 11p.m.”

He said that after Sy’s return to his cell at the Marines facility with prescribed medicines, “NBP doctors from Muntinlupa went to check the PDL and was considered to have suffered CVA (stroke).”

“He experienced several seizures while still at Fort Bonifacio but revived,” he said.

From the Marines facility, Sy was brought to the NBP Hospital “for further treatment, management and preparation for outside emergency referral to Ospital ng Muntinlupa,” he added.

Sy was among 10 NBP inmates who testified against De Lima in her three cases before the Muntinlupa City regional trial court (RTC).