A cadet from a maritime academy was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after reportedly being forced to exercise by his upperclassman on Monday, July 8.
ABS-CBN News reported that Calamba City Police identified the victim as 19-year-old Vince Andrew Anihon Delos Reyes, a second-year student at the maritime academy.
According to the investigation, Delos Reyes and the suspect, along with other cadets, had a meal together around 5 p.m. before heading to their barracks. The suspect reportedly ordered Delos Reyes to report to the barracks because he was displeased with Delos Reyes’ response in their group chat, said Police Lieutenant Colonel Titoy Jay Cuden, chief of Calamba City Police.
“Apparently, hindi nagustuhan nung senior class o nung 3rd year cadet yung ‘thumbs up’ na parang sagot nung 2nd year cadet dun sa group,” Cuden stated.
As a punishment, the suspect made Delos Reyes perform a series of exercises.
“According dun sa investigation, si victim was ordered to perform series of exercises, so yung una is squat thrust for 100 repetitions, then ‘yung pumping another hundred repetitions, then ‘yung last kung saan siya nag collapsed is yung star jump. Supposedly 100 repetitions din accordingly… Aa counting nila on the 58th repetition ng star jump dun na siya nag collapse, humawak sa bed at dinala sa dispensary nila,” Cuden explained.
The suspect has been charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
“Wala namang sinasabi ‘yung witnesses na may body contact, then so purely exercises lang daw ang pina-perform… Sa tingin namin ‘di naman na-haze ‘yung bata, but titingnan natin pa rin yung report ng medico legal o the result of autopsy,” Cuden added.
The victim’s mother, Anna Delos Santos, disputes that exercise caused her son’s death, noting that he had no underlying health issues.
“Wala po sir [sakit yan] kasi bago sila pumasok yan diyan, napakasinsin, napaka-selan ng medical ganito so before sila pumasok nagpa medical yan,” sabi ni Delos Santos.
“Hindi ako maniwala kung exercise lang… exercise? Ikamamatay. Kung nakita niyo itsura ng anak ko sa video ko sa picture ko. Kung exercise lang? Saan ang sinabing iingatan, huwag magalala mga magulang at mga anak ninyo dito iingatan,” she added.
The family is considering legal action.
“Pero hindi ko hahayaan ganito na lang sinapit ng anak ko, hindi ko hahayaan na ganito ang sinapit ng anak ko, dahil pumasok siya doon para sa kanyang kinabukasan and then ang sabi ng school nung kami nag briefing, magandang kinabukasan para sa marinong Pilipino,” Delos Santos stated.
The suspect has declined to comment on the incident. The victim’s body has been returned to Oriental Mindoro.