1st ID commander Brig. Gen. Lucero dies

The Armed Forces of the Philippines mourned the death of Army division commander Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, who died shortly after diving at a beach in Zamboanga del Sur Sunday afternoon.

In a statement, AFP public affairs office head Maj. Ramon Zagala said Lucero died at 1:55 p.m. after diving at Tabak Beach in Tukuran, a sanctuary near the 1st Division in Zamboanga del Sur.

"He passed away at Mendero Hospital in Pagadian City where he was sent for treatment when he collapsed after diving at Tabak beach [in] Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur," he said.

At the time of his death, Lucero, 54, was commander of the Army's 1st Infantry Division, radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle quoted the AFP as saying in a statement.

The AFP added that Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista and the rest of the AFP leadership "extend their deepest condolences and prayers to Brig. Gen. Lucero's wife Maria Consuelo and daughter Paula [Bettina]."

"Brig. Gen. Lucero, 54, served in the military since he graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1983," it said.

Reception outing

Only last week, Lucero was one of the honorees lauded by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin at a ceremony for peacekeepers during the International Day of UN peacekeepers in Camp Aguinaldo.

Lucero previously commanded the Philippine peacekeeping contingent in Haiti.

Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said that the dive was part of a reception outing for newly assigned second lieutenants.

Cabangbang said Lucero collapsed and was immediately evacuated to Mendero Hospital in Pagadian City for medical treatment but was pronounced dead by the attending physician. — BM, GMA News