Farmer set to join SONA march dies of illness before mass action

Militant groups march towards the Batasang Pambansa during President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address. LEO SABANGAN II/INQUIRER

MANILA — A Masbate farmer who was supposed to join the march all the way to the Batasan Pambansa during President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address did not make it to the march on Monday morning after he died hours before the protest rally.

An initial report from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Roberto Mapa, 35, a farmer and member of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Masbate Chapter, experienced difficulty of breathing around 3 a.m.

His colleague, Roilan Bravo, told investigators that he was sleeping beside Mapa at the Dagohoy covered court at UP Diliman, where they were billeted while waiting for Duterte’s Sona, when the fatality suddenly gasped for his breath.

The native of Uson, Masbate, was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival at around 3:30 a.m.

Although the cause of death of Mapa was still undetermined as of Monday afternoon, the police said doctors did not find external injuries on Mapa’s body.  SFM