PMA plebe dies at AFP hospital in Quezon City

A 17-year old plebe of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) died Tuesday while undergoing treatment at the Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (formerly V. Luna Hospital) in Quezon City. Gregorio Burcer, father of cadet John Limuel, told GMANews.TV that only last Sunday, they were informed that even though their son has cough and colds, there was no need to worry since his son was already recovering. On Monday, however, Burcer said he received another call that his son will be airlifted to Manila to have his condition checked. He said his wife immediately left their house in Bicol to attend to his ailing son. When his wife arrived at the hospital, their child was still alive and told her that he does not want to return to PMA once he recovers. "Maraming gustong sabihin, maraming gustong ikwento yung bata kaya lang sobrang mahina na siya," the elder Burcer said. The younger Burcer died hours after his mother arrived. His body is now at the morgue of the military hospital. Gregorio said they found no bruise on the body of their son but he noticed that his feet were swollen. In another telephone interview, PMA superintendent Maj. Gen. Leopoldo Maligalig stressed that cadet Burcer was no victim of foul play. Citing his conversation with Brig. Gen. Efren Veran, commanding general of the Armed Forces Medical Center, Maligalig said cadet Burcer's death could be most likely due to complications from pnuemonia. "There is no foul play, I can assure you that. In fact, he (Burcer) had been confined in our (PMA) hospital for 10 days prior to being evacuated to Manila," Maligalig said. An elder sister, Gregylyn, said her brother arrived early Tuesday morning at the AFPMC where he subsequently died about 10 a.m. John Limuel entered the PMA last April 1. He was a student of Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila for three semesters before he was accepted at the military school. - GMANews.TV