No indications of foul play in initial probe of PMA cadet's death in swimming pool —police

Initial investigations conducted by the Baguio City Police showed no indications of foul play in the drowning of a Philippine Military Academy cadet in the school's swimming pool, the city's chief of police said Saturday.

"Wala naman po as of now... At this early stage, wala po tayong nakikitang indications of foul play," Baguio City police chief Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said in an interview on Dobol sa News TV aired on GMA News TV.

Co: Sa ngayon, wala po tayong nakikitang foul play. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) November 8, 2019

Cadet 4th Class Mario Telen, Jr. of Alpha Company of the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines was found dead in the 15-foot deep end of the pool on Friday.

He was declared dead on arrival at the PMA Station Hospital.

"Fifteen feet po ang lalim ng pool. Sa initial findings natin, hindi po strong swimmer ang nasawing kadete at 'yun ang tinitignan natin," Co said.

The Baguio City Police is also looking at the lapses of swimming instructors at the PMA.

Despite seeing no indications of foul play in the initial probe, Co said the police is "not discounting anything" as he noted that Telen drowned during a swimming test wherein there were other cadets in the pool.

"Of course, we will have to wait for the autopsy," he said.

"'Yun po ang madadag po, we [will] solidify our investigation kung ano pong lalabas sa autopsy," he said. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News