By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
Two inmates under police custody died due to illnesses, the Manila Police District (MPD) Public Information Office (PIO) confirmed on Wednesday.
Richard Abarquez, 47, succumbed to acute respiratory failure with underlying cause of sepsis and meningococcemia at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
MPD PIO chief Carlo Manuel said Abarquez, who was detained at the Sta. Ana Police Station, complained of difficulty in breathing and later collapsed while he was taking a bath on Wednesday morning.
Investigation showed that the victim was rushed to different hospitals but was turned away because they feared that Abarquez had the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Eventually, he was admitted at the PGH.
Police said that prior to the incident, the victim had suffered from spontaneous appearance of rashes on his torso and lower extremities.
Meanwhile, Carlo Richard Villota, 37, who was under custody at the Raxabago Police Station, passed away at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a report, he was hospitalized on the same day after experiencing diarrhea. Investigation is ongoing.