April 06, 2021

Anna Murray 

A 28-year-old man died on April 3 after allegedly being punished to perform 300 squats for violating curfew in the city of General Trias, Cavite, Philippines. Darren Manaog Peñaredondo was caught by village guards on April 1 buying drinking water during COVID curfew hours from 6 pm to 5 am. He violated coronavirus restriction imposed under an enhanced community quarantine status of the Cavite Province. Peñaredondo was brought to the Plaza Malabon in front of the municipal hall on April 2 and forced to repeat the exercise similar to squats 300 times.

Later on April 3, Peñaredondo began suffering seizures and triggered the stroke. The victim died at around 10 pm. The listed causes on Peñaredondo’s death certificate were cerebrovascular infarct midbrain and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.  A forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun commented on the death certificate and explained Peñaredondo had died of a stroke from hypertension. She also explained that the death certificate listed Peñaredondo’s death under natural causes.

Critics in the Philippines have condemned the death of Peñaredondo. Dean of San Beda Graduate School of Law in Manila, Father Ranhilio Aquino, protested the alleged punishment was inhuman and against the Philippine constitution as well. Ironically the city’s police chief, lieutenant colonel Marlo Nillo Solero, told the press and denied such punishment for people who violated COVID restrictions. He said the city police would instead conduct lectures to the violators. Mayor of General Trias, Antonio Alandy Ferrer, declared that they had started an investigation.

Photo : webshot.