Army training hours moved after trainee succumbs to heat stroke in Isabela

Training hours for candidate soldiers were ordered moved to different times of the day after a trainee died of a heat stroke in Isabela, the Philippine Army said. Army chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu wanted trainers to first ensure that the temperature outdoors is not too high before conducting trainings, according to military spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos. “Because of the incident, there is a guidance coming from the commanding general of the Philippine Army that the activities of conducting or holding physical strenuous activities should not be done during a time where there is intense heat," said Burgos. “They will have to reschedule them because of the abnormal prevailing (condition). Because of the climate change, they will have to change the schedule," added Burgos. Candidate soldier Ericson Pascua and hundreds of fellow trainees were on their first day of training when he collapsed after a strenuous exercise. He later died in the hospital. Six others suffered heat exhaustion while 10 others experienced dehydration. Some 6,200 Army candidate soldiers have set out on a 12-week training to become servicemen and seven-week training for Jungle Warfare Mountaineering Orientation Course. Burgos assured Pascua's family of burial assistance, as well as a separate P40,000 in financial assistance from the 5th Infantry Division. Pascua's benificiary will also receive P5,000 a month, which is the basic pay of a private soldier. “We would like to express our condolences and sympathy for the death of candidate Pascua. We will not forget his dream if serving the country as a soldier," Burgos said. - MDM, RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV