CAMP OLIVAS - The cause of the death of a police recruit who died while on training is bacterial meningitis, a police official said Thursday.
Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division (RIDMD) chief Ervin Gumban said this was the result of the autopsy submitted to him by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory Office in the National Headquarters in Camp Crame on the death of trainee Nile El Chico Nieves.
Nieves reportedly collapsed during a formation at the Regional Training Service (RTS3) in Magalang on July 3 at about 3:00 p.m.
Central Luzon police director Arturo Cacdac, after learning the incident, directed Gumban to conduct an in-depth investigation on the untimely death of Nieves.
The victim was immediately taken to the Balicutan District Hospital also in Magalang but was transferred to the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUFMC) due to lack of medical equipment, he said.
Attending doctors at the AUFMC said the victim died of cerebral malaria, pasmodia and kidney failure.
Gumban said that bacterial meningitis is a general term and may cause hypertension, cerebral malaria and other bacterial infection.
Gumban said that the victim is from Tuao, Cagayan Valley and that "we cannot say that he was bitten by mosquitoes carrying those bacteria."
He said that Nieves has a history of dengue disease but it was not determined if he recovered.
Gumban said they could not blame the Regional Health Service because they only conduct physical and medical examinations.
He said the examination is "only to know if the applicant is physically fit to go under rigid training being conducted at the RTS3."
Gumban said there is no physical injury inflicted to the victim.
Nieves was among 265 PNP recruits who took their oath at the Camp Olivas Parade Grounds on July 1. (Ric Sapnu)