Death certificate shows stroke killed curfew violator; family mulls pressing raps

Darren Peñaredondo, who was allegedly punished with 300 pumping squats over a curfew violation in Cavite, succumbed to stroke  and a heart condition, according to his death certificate.

In a text message,  Peñaredondo's live-in partner,  Reichelyn Balce,  confirmed to GMA News Online that her partner's immediate cause of death was "cerebrovascular infarct midbrain."

She added, however, that the antecedent cause of death was "hypertensive cardiovascular disease."

According to a police report, the man was apprehended for curfew violations on Thursday, April 1 and was brought to the Municipal Hall of Malabon, General Trias Cavite where he was forced to do 300 rounds of the exercise.

Days later, the victim had seizures and was brought to a nearby hospital where he died.

Balce narrated that Peñaredondo left their home to purchase drinking water but was apprehended and brought to the General Trias Police Station for breaching curfew protocols.

Balce said apprehended violators were required to do 100 counts of pumping exercise but had to repeat it if they were not in sync. Peñaredondo has an existing heart illness while doing the punishment, Balce added.

In a "24 Oras" report by Jonathan Andal, Balce said authorities should sanction violators with community service instead of strenuous exercises.

"Bakit kailangan pagpumping-in yung tao? Pwede naman community service na lang. Hindi naman lahat ng tao physically-fit para gawin yung ganoong bagay eh," she said.

(Why force someone to do pumping exercise when community service would do. Not everyone is physically fit to do such exercise.)

The victim's family is already mulling to file complaints against the police over Peñaredondo's death.

But General Trias police chief Lieutenant Colonel Marlo Solero denied forcing COVID-19 protocol violators to do exercise, saying they are only asked to do community work.

"Walang na-inflict na harm or nag-impose ng physical punishment yung mga police na naka-duty at that time. Wala ho silang pinagawang ano pang exercise," he said as quoted in the television report.

(No harm was inflicted, or imposed physical punishment. They did not implement exercise.)

Interior Department Spokesman Jonathan Malaya previously said they will investigate the death. -Consuelo Marquez/MDM, GMA News