Resu-Central Visayas head found dead inside house

THE head of the Department of Health (DOH)-Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) in Central Visayas, Rennan Cimafranca, was found dead inside his room Monday, April 23.

Cimafranca was found lying on his bed in a room he rented in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, around 9 a.m. Monday.

Police investigators of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Homicide Section believed that Cimafranca may have succumbed to a lingering illness. But investigators declined to confirm what illness Cimafranca died of.

His subordinates and coworkers at the DOH 7 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) were shocked upon hearing of Cimafranca’s death.

Dr. Shelbay Blanco, RESU chief and Cimafranca’s boss, told reporters that the late epidemiologist was supposed to travel to Tagaytay for a work-related seminar.

Blanco said they started to get worried when one of their colleagues who were supposed to accompany Cimafranca to Tagaytay told them he hadn’t arrived at the airport for their early morning flight.

Blanco sent two of his subordinates to Cimafranca’s house to check on him after he received word that the latter was complaining of pain after an accident inside his home last week.

Blanco said that despite knowing Cimafranca for only two years, he knew him as a hardworking and no nonsense person.

“Kung trabaho, walay masulti iyang mga colleagues kay buotan man gyod siya. Sa two years nagkakuyog mi, wala sad koy masulti ni Sir Rennan kay wala siya’y libog, dali nimo siya maduol (We don’t have any problem with him, he was hardworking and easy to get along with),” Blanco said.

In a statement, DOH 7 Director Jaime Bernadas said he was saddened by Cimafranca’s sudden passing.

“We lost a dedicated regional surveillance officer. We were aware of his chronic disease and had encouraged his close medical follow-up on his treatment regimen,” Bernadas said.

Cimafranca was known for leading surveillance operations on diseases in the region. (JKV, SCG/HBL)