Grieving mom seeks justice for cadet who died after emoji punishment

MANILA, Philippines—The mother of a 19-year-old cadet who died at a maritime academy in Calamba City, Laguna, allegedly after being punished over a thumbs-up emoji, is calling for justice for her son.

“What happened to my son is difficult to accept, but I will try to accept it. The only thing I ask for is justice for my son,” Ana delos Reyes told INQUIRER.net in Filipino.

In a phone interview on Sunday, she shared the harrowing experience of their family upon hearing about the death of her son, Cadet Vince Andrew Anihon Delos Reyes, on July 8.

According to Ana, the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) informed her about what happened via phone, prompting her and her husband to travel from their home in Baco, Oriental Mindoro, to Barangay Canlubang in Calamba City, where the academy is located. Their two nephews accompanied them.

Kind and quiet

Upon arriving in Calamba, Ana recounted that they visited the Calamba City Police Station, where a suspect identified only as Nathaniel was brought along with four other unnamed witnesses whom she talked to.

“When I read the report about the group chat, I first asked them (the witnesses) what they knew about Vince. They said he was very kind and quiet. When I asked if he ever spoke badly or bragged, they said he did not,” Ana said.

She also asked them about the content of the group chat and what could have prompted the senior to punish Vince, but none of the witnesses gave Ana a clear answer.

Based on police reports, the cadet was ordered by Nathaniel to perform physical exercises as a consequence for accidentally sending a thumbs-up emoji to a group chat of the corps of cadets.

During the exercises, Delos Reyes reportedly experienced difficulty breathing and collapsed in his cabin at the NTMA. He was initially taken to the school infirmary and later rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Citing witnesses’ statements, Ana pointed out that something more might have happened to her son since the punishment was done inside a room. She said it was impossible for Vince to collapse, knowing that her son’s health had always been in good condition.

“A classmate said that it’s easy for Delos Reyes to do 300 [push-ups]. His body is fit, and he can even do 1,000,” Vince’s mother emphasized.

“It is impossible that he’ll have a heart attack. They are very strict with their medical [checkup], and he also underwent one,” she said.

A mother’s grief and plea

Ana also pointed out that Vince had always been honest with her, never failed to update the family about his whereabouts, and was always focused on his goal to finish his studies.

“When my son would come home, I would always ask how he was. I said son, don’t hesitate to tell me if they are bullying or harassing you. Don’t keep it a secret if you are experiencing something like that, but he told me that nothing like that was happening,” Ana said.

According to her, Vince, a second-year college student, was aware of their status in life and even promised the family that he would finish his studies on time and help them.

“It is painful for a parent to lose a child,” she said.

Vince’s body lies at the family’s residence in Brgy. Tagumpay, Baco. There was an outpouring of sympathy from friends, former classmates, local officials, and even from people they met for the first time.

Ana said the NTMA personnel were guarding the wake 24 hours a day, switching shifts.

“They are not leaving us,” Ana said. “They are welcome here. Of course, they are people, too. I can’t tell them to go.”

Meanwhile, Ana said that she has no idea which police unit will be investigating the case.

“But I vowed, I will not allow it to end just like that. He’s my son. We dreamed together, and then they did this to him,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Ana said that Vince’s body underwent an autopsy, but the results showed that the cause of death was “undetermined.”