A quarantine violator who had heart disease died after allegedly being forced to do around 300 pumps in General Trias in Cavite.
The victim was identified as Darren Peñaredondo. According to his live-in partner Reichelyn Balce, village watchmen arrested Peñaredondo for violating the curfew on April 1.
She said that the victim only went outside to buy mineral water. He was arrested and brought to the General Trias Police Station.
Balce said the quarantine violators were asked to do pumping exercises 100 times.
However, the cops made them repeat the exercise because they were not in sync until they do almost 300 rounds.
“Ang kuwento niya po sa akin, dinala sila sa Plaza ng Malabon sa tapat po ‘yun ng munisipyo. Tapos po, pinag-pumping daw sila ng mga pulis nang 100 times. Sabi pa po sa kanila, ‘pag di sila sabay-sabay, pauulitin daw sila. Kuwento niya rin po sa akin na natumba rin siya doon,” Balce said in an interview with Rappler.
(He told me that they were brought to the Plaza Malabon in front of the municipal hall. And then, they were told to do pumping exercises 100 times. The enforcers also said that if they were not in sync, they would repeat it again. He also told me he stumbled while doing the exercise.)
Quarantine violator with heart disease dies after being made to do 300 pumps in Cavite
Balce said Peñaredondo told her he has heart disease.
“Tapos pag-uwi niya po ng umaga ng Biyernes, mag-aalas otso ng umaga, akay-akay na po siya ng kasama niyang nahuli sakay ng mobile. Tinanong ko kung nabugbog ba siya, ngumiti lang siya pero halata mong may masakit sa kanya,” she added.
(Then when he came home on Friday, around 8 am, he was assisted by his fellow quarantine violator while inside the mobile. I asked if he was hit, he just smiled but it was obvious he’s in pain.)
The following day, the victim reportedly started having seizures and was rushed to the hospital but later died.
“Nu’ng nagpatulong po siya para umihi, doon na po siya nag-seizure. Nag-kombulsyon na po siya, nag-violet na po mukha niya. Wala na ‘yung heartbeat niya. Nagpatulong lang ako sa mga kapitbahay namin para i-CPR siya, doon lang bumalik heartbeat niya,” Luceña said.
(When he asked for help when he was about to pee, he started to have seizures. He convulsed and his face turned violet. He lost his heartbeat. I asked our neighbors to give him CPR, afterward his heartbeat returned.)
Meanwhile, General Trias police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlo Nillo Solero denied the allegations of Peñaredondo’s family, noting the punishment they give for quarantine violators was community service.
“So sa claim po na pumping, wala po kaming binibigay na ganoong punishment sa kanila. Instead, we’re conducting lectures po (As to the claims of pumping, we don’t give such a punishment. Instead, we conduct lectures),” Solero said in a phone interview with Rappler.