Casepin
Back to cases

Case file

Murders of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez

SOLVED1993Calauan, Laguna, Philippines3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On the night of June 28, 1993, Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez, both students at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), were abducted outside the campus by men working for Antonio Sanchez, then mayor of Calauan, Laguna, and forced into a white vehicle. The pair were taken to Erais Farm in Barangay Curba, reportedly owned by Sanchez. Sarmenta was brought to Sanchez's room while Gomez was beaten by members of Sanchez's staff, including Luis Corcolon, Rogelio "Boy" Corcolon, Zoilo Ama, and George Medialdea. The group later moved Sarmenta and Gomez to a Toyota Tamaraw FX vehicle. Gomez was struck with a rifle butt by Jose "Pepito" Kawit and was later shot. Sarmenta was removed from a resthouse in distress, and Sanchez allegedly handed her over to his men after assaulting her. She was then gang-raped in a sugarcane field in Barangay Mabacan before being shot in the face by Corcolon, according to trial testimony including that of witness Aurelio Centeno.

On June 29, 1993, Sarmenta's mother, Clara Sarmenta, was contacted and led to the site where her daughter's body was found inside the van. A PNP Crime Laboratory examination found Sarmenta had been raped before being killed. Gomez's body was found separately in a grassy area in Calauan, with two gunshot wounds. Investigators recovered the Tamaraw FX vehicle used in the abduction, which had reportedly been cleaned at the Calauan municipal hall, as well as a spent cartridge near Gomez's body. Two suspects surrendered to police and implicated Sanchez as the mastermind. Sanchez himself accused Teofilo "Kit" Alqueza, son of Gen. Dictador Alqueza, of masterminding the killing of Gomez, but prosecutors did not charge Alqueza.

Sanchez was arrested on August 13, 1993, and the case against him and six henchmen — Medialdea, Luis Corcolon, Rogelio Corcolon, Ama, Kawit, and Baldwin Brion — was formally read on September 12, 1993. On March 14, 1995, Judge Harriet Demetriou of the Pasig Regional Trial Court found Sanchez and several henchmen guilty of rape and murder, sentencing Sanchez to seven terms of reclusion perpetua and ordering damages to the victims' families. The Philippine Supreme Court affirmed the conviction on January 25, 1999.

In August 2019, a Bureau of Corrections document signed by then-director Nicanor Faeldon indicated Sanchez could be released under a retroactively applied good conduct time allowance law, prompting public outrage, a Senate inquiry, and Faeldon's dismissal by President Rodrigo Duterte on September 4, 2019. During the Senate probe, Faeldon confirmed that three convicted men — Medialdea, Rogelio Corcolon, and Ama — had already died in prison. Sanchez died in prison at New Bilibid Prison Hospital on March 27, 2021, at age 74; his cause of death was not specified.

Key facts

Victims
Allan Gomez, Eileen Sarmenta
Date
1993
Location
Calauan, Laguna, Philippines
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1993-06-28

    Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez are abducted outside UP Los Baños by men working for Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez.

  2. 1993-06-29

    Sarmenta's body is found inside a van; Gomez's body is found separately in Calauan with gunshot wounds.

  3. 1993-08-13

    Antonio Sanchez is arrested and denies involvement, accusing Teofilo 'Kit' Alqueza of masterminding Gomez's killing.

  4. 1993-09-12

    Formal reading of the case against Sanchez and six henchmen: George Medialdea, Luis Corcolon, Rogelio Corcolon, Zoilo Ama, Jose 'Pepito' Kawit, and Baldwin Brion.

  5. 1995-01-25

    Sanchez denies allegations in a hearing; his original defense lawyers withdraw from the case.

  6. 1995-03-14

    Judge Harriet Demetriou convicts Sanchez and several henchmen, sentencing Sanchez to seven terms of reclusion perpetua and ordering payment of damages.

  7. 1999-01-25

    The Philippine Supreme Court affirms the Regional Trial Court's conviction of Sanchez and henchmen.

  8. 1999-08-29

    Supreme Court gives Sanchez a separate double life term for the murders of Nelson and Rickson Peñalosa.

  9. 2006-10-10

    Authorities find methamphetamine and marijuana in Sanchez's jail during a surprise inspection.

  10. 2010-07

    Sanchez is caught with methamphetamine concealed in a religious statue in prison.

  11. 2015-11

    An air conditioning unit and flat-screen TV are seized from Sanchez during a prison raid.

  12. 2019-06-25

    The Supreme Court voids parts of RA 10592, making certain good conduct time allowance provisions retroactive.

  13. 2019-08-20

    Bureau of Corrections Director General Nicanor Faeldon announces Sanchez is likely to be released within two months.

  14. 2019-08-21

    Sarmenta's mother, Clara Sarmenta, says she plans to appeal Sanchez's possible release.

  15. 2019-08-22

    UPLB students and alumni hold a rally protesting Sanchez's possible release.

  16. 2019-08-23

    The Supreme Court denies ordering Sanchez's release; women's group Gabriela rallies outside the Department of Justice.

  17. 2019-08-26

    President Rodrigo Duterte orders officials not to release Sanchez.

  18. 2019-09-02

    Senate Blue Ribbon Committee begins probe into Sanchez's near-release; Faeldon confirms three convicted co-defendants have died in prison.

  19. 2019-09-04

    Duterte fires Nicanor Faeldon for approving Sanchez's release.

  20. 2020-02-05

    Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommends criminal charges against Faeldon and other officials over the GCTA controversy.

  21. 2021-03-27

    Antonio Sanchez dies at New Bilibid Prison Hospital at age 74; cause of death unspecified.

Best coverage

No approved coverage links are attached yet.

People

  • Harriet Demetriou

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Pasig Regional Trial Court judge who presided over the trial and issued the March 14, 1995 conviction

  • Allan Gomez

    VICTIM

    UPLB student abducted, tortured, and killed on June 28-29, 1993

  • George Medialdea

    CONVICTED

    Calauan deputy chief of police convicted in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison

  • Jose Kawit

    CONVICTED

    Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case, referred to as Jose 'Pepito' Kawit

  • Luis Corcolon

    CONVICTED

    Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case

  • Antonio Sanchez

    CONVICTED

    Calauan mayor convicted March 14, 1995 of masterminding the rape and murder of Sarmenta and the murder of Gomez; sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua; conviction affirmed by the Supreme Court January 25, 1999; died in prison March 27, 2021

  • Baldwin Brion

    CONVICTED

    Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case

  • Zoilo Ama

    CONVICTED

    Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison

  • Aurelio Centeno

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Present during the crimes and became a star witness for the prosecution

  • Eileen Sarmenta

    VICTIM

    UPLB student abducted, raped, and killed on June 28-29, 1993

  • Nicanor Faeldon

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Bureau of Corrections Director General who approved a 2019 release order for Sanchez and was later fired by President Duterte

  • Rogelio Corcolon

    CONVICTED

    Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Calauan, Laguna, Philippines

14.1489, 121.3172

View on the map

Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Two University of the Philippines Los Baños students, Eileen Sarmenta and Allan Gomez, were abducted, and Sarmenta was raped and killed and Gomez tortured and killed on June 28-29, 1993, in Calauan, Laguna. Calauan mayor Antonio Sanchez and several henchmen were later convicted of the crime.
Where did the murders happen?
Calauan, Laguna, Philippines.
Who was convicted?
George Medialdea (Calauan deputy chief of police convicted in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison), Jose Kawit (Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case, referred to as Jose 'Pepito' Kawit), Luis Corcolon (Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case), Antonio Sanchez (Calauan mayor convicted March 14, 1995 of masterminding the rape and murder of Sarmenta and the murder of Gomez; sentenced to seven terms of reclusion perpetua; conviction affirmed by the Supreme Court January 25, 1999; died in prison March 27, 2021), Baldwin Brion (Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case), Zoilo Ama (Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison), and Rogelio Corcolon (Convicted henchman in the 1995 rape-slay case; died in prison).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Philippines

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurders of Eileen Sarmenta and Allan GomezWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSDuterte wants BuCor chief Faeldon to resignabs-cbn.com · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESS3 convicts in Sarmenta-Gomez slay case already dead: Faeldongmanetwork.com · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 10, 2026