PRO-6 mourns PNPA cadet’s death

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 is mourning a Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadet who reportedly died of heatstroke on July 8, 2020.

In its Facebook page, PRO-6 said “it conveys its deepest sympathy to the family of our DRDO, Police Colonel Ross Alvarado, for the passing of his son, PNPA 4th Class Cadet Kenneth Ross Alvarado.”

Col. Alvarado took over the DRDO (deputy regional director for operations) post, the third-highest police office in the region, on June 4, 2020.

Alvarado, a member of PNPA Tagapagpatupad Class of 1992, immediately flew to Manila when he received reports that his son collapsed during an evening mess formation a day before he died.

In its Facebook post, the PNP hierarchy said the younger Alvarado’s co-cadet brought him to the Academy Health Service and consequently referred to Qualimed Hospital in Sta Rosa City, Laguna due to difficulty of breathing.

His mother was also in the hospital after learning of the incident.

“The cadet was in the hospital at about 6:05 p.m. and appropriate medical intervention was immediately given to the patient cadet unfortunately, he didn’t make it and was declared dead at 9:56 PM,” the PNPA report said.

PNP Chief, Police General Archie Gamboa also expressed his condolences to the parents and relatives of 4CL Alvarado.

Gamboa also ordered the PNPA administration to conduct further inquiry and investigation to avoid such incidents.

The PNP statement added that PNPA Director, Police Major General Jose Chiquito Malayo, has noted the PNP Chief’s instruction.

He assured that the Academy will implement additional measures while the initial stage of training the PNPA Class of 2024 is still ongoing.

“Among those initiatives are mandatory intake of minimum ten glasses of water of all cadets; providing two (2) canteen cups filled with water in bandolier as part of their uniform; drills are momentarily in the shaded area; and progressive exercises will be in two (2) parts – three (3) rounds (600 m/round) around the parade ground during the first day then four (4) rounds after 3 days up to today. Target is ten rounds for the Incorporation Day.”

At present, the new PNP Class has 306 newly acquired cadets (254 males and 52 females). Their reception rite was held on July 3.