PNPA suspends activities for new cadets after 2 deaths in a week

The Philippine National Police Academy campus. (Photo from the PNPA Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday said that it has temporarily suspended all activities for new cadets after a second cadet died this week while in the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Cavite.

The two subsequent deaths prompted PNPA Director Maj. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo to order the suspension of all activities for the PNPA Class of 2024.

In a statement, the PNP said that Cadet Fourth Class Jiary Jasen Papa died on Friday due to electrolyte imbalance or hypokalemia (low potassium intake).

The police force said that according to Papa’s logbook, she requested permission to go to the comfort room at 2:30 a.m., and later went back to bed.

An hour later, she woke up to prepare for an early morning activity but collapsed beside her bunks.

The cadet was first brought to the Academy Health Service to be given first aid. She was later rushed to the Qualimed Hospital in Sta Rosa, Laguna, but was declared dead.

Papa’s body will undergo swab test for COVID-19 infection as part of health protocols, the Academy Health Service said.

On July 8, a police cadet, Cadet Fourth Class Kenneth Ross Alvarado, suddenly collapsed during an evening mess formation, and later died due to heat stroke.