Woman dies of stroke after attending political rally in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A 58-year-old supporter of a congressional candidate in Makilala town, North Cotabato died of a stroke after attending a political rally on Sunday.

Aurea Pallero of Sitio Patulangon, Barangay Malasila was rushed to a hospital after complaining of chest pain upon arriving home at 5 p.m. from a political rally that started at 2 p.m. Malasila.

She was one of the hundreds of residents in Sitio Patulangon who braved the sun’s scorching heat to join the crowd in a rally supporting a local candidate running for a seat at the House of Representatives.

“She was very excited when leaving the house,” said Sheila Panerio, a family friend. “We even reminded her of her ailment, but she didn’t mind us. Perhaps, it was the severe temperature that triggered her sickness because the attending physician told us that she suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure,” Panerio added.

The family did not blame anybody for her death but they advised other people to keep their loved ones who may be suffering from an ailment from attending gatherings outside, as high temperature being experienced in North Cotabato reached as high as 42 degrees Celsius over the weekend, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Atmospheric Services Administration.