A female police trainee died after suffering heatstroke few days before their class graduation at Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna on Monday.
Vanessa Teñoso, 28, who was called by her superiors “one of the strongest female trainees in her batch,” died of cardiac arrest minutes after the flag raising ceremony inside the camp of the Calabarzon Police Regional Office in Calamba City.
Senior Supt. Ernesto Agas, National Police Training Institute (NPTI)’s training unit head, said in a phone interview on Tuesday that Teñoso, a native of Cagayan Valley, is undergoing the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course as part of her application for the elite police unit Special Action Force (SAF).
SAF Training Branch head Supt. Cyril Jasmin said it is required for trainees to undergo six months of PSBRC training before they qualify for the SAF commando training.
Agas said three trainees, including Teñoso, complained of dizziness after their formation in the field joined by 2,000 officers.
From their quarters, the trainees were ordered to return to the field to rehearse their recognition march for March 18.
Around 9:30 a.m., Teñoso’s classmates brought her to the dispensary for first aid treatment. She was then rushed to the hospital but the physicians declared her dead on arrival.
“She’s one of the strongest women in their batch so nobody expected it would happen,” said the police official.
Based on her health records, Teñoso never suffered any serious illness except fever in the past.
According to the Calabarzon Police’s medico-legal officer Supt. Roy Camarillo, she suffered “sudden cardiac arrest secondary to heatstroke.”
The NPTI said it had asked the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc. to expedite the release of benefits for the trainee’s burial services.
“But initially, the NPTI donated P80,000 to her family for her autopsy, casket and burial services,” Agas said.
Teñoso’s body is currently at the mortuary of the National Capital Region Police Office at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Agas said her remains will be brought to her province later 6 p.m. for the wake and burial.
Teñoso is survived by her husband Rodil and her 3-year-old daughter. CDG
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