By Liezle Basa Inigo SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – A three-year-old boy from Barangay Mestizo Norte here, who was admitted as a patient under investigation (PUI) at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, (PPH) passed away April 14. The City Information Office (CIO) said the boy was initially diagnosed with pediatric community-acquired pneumonia and acute gastroenteritis when admitted to the PPH. The cause for the death of the patient, who also suffered from congenital heart disease and down syndrome, was listed as acute respiratory failure second to pediatric community-acquired pneumonia. The family said the boy had no travel history, and had, in fact, not been out of their house for the past 14 days. The city health office here noted that the patient was categorically considered a PUI due to the presence of pneumonia in his cause of death even in the absence of travel or direct exposure from a COVID-19 patient. The city government said proper observance of handling and procedures would be observed in burying the victim, as set forth by the Department of Health (DOH). The child was immediately buried within the 12-hour protocol period. The city has three other PUIs, with the one from Barangay Mamarlao already testing negative, and those from Barangays Bolingit and Payapa still awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests.