Muntinlupa’s mayor-elect and outgoing Rep. Ruffy Biazon mourned the death of a city policeman who passed away after going on duty for three days straight during the election.
Biazon visited the wake of SPO3 Manuel Escalona, a member of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) team at the Muntinlupa police, who passed away on May 10 due to a heart attack. He was 42.
According to the Muntinlupa police, Escalona was riding a motorcycle on his way to his duty as SWAT team member in Muntinlupa when he had a heart attack along Daang Hari road in Imus, Cavite.
He was brought to the South Imus Specialist Hospital in Imus City but was declared dead on arrival by attending physician Dr. Jesus Madlangbayan.
According to Biazon, Escalona, a member of the Muntinlupa police, went on duty for three days straight.
“Namatay si Manuel dahil pumutok ang ugat sa kanyang puso. Matapos ang kanyang 3-day duty sa halalan, nakapagpahinga lang siya ng konti at nagpatuloy sa normal na gawain. Nagmamaneho siya ng motorsiklo niya nang atakihin, bumagsak at binawian ng buhay. (Manuel died because the vein in his heart burst. After his three-day duty during the election, he briefly took a break and resumed his normal activities. He was driving a motorcycle when he had an attack, he fell down and died),” Biazon said in a Facebook post.
Escalona’s wife, according to Biazon, said Manuel had high blood pressure and diabetes.
“Marahil dahil sa stress dulot ng straight duty na tatlong araw kasabay ng hindi masyadong naasikasong kalusugan ang naging sanhi ng pagbigay ng ugat ng kanyang puso. Bata pa siya, 42 years old lang (Perhaps because of the stress due to his straight duty for three days in addition to his not being able to take care of his health caused his vein in his heart to give out. He was young, only 42 years old),” said Biazon.
Escalona was brought to his home province of Ilocos Sur. Biazon said Escalona served for more than 20 years as a police officer in Muntinlupa.
Muntinlupa police’s acting chief Col. Angel Garcillano paid tribute to Escalona.
"The whole Muntinlupa City Police Station is deeply saddened by our sudden loss of a very competent and good-hearted personnel. His dedication to duty is something that his colleagues and superiors will always remember him by. He served the PNP and the Filipino people well,” he said.
He added, “Our office will be assisting in the facilitation of his claims. Support and assistance from our Regional Director PMGEN Felipe R. Natividad, District Director Brig. Gen.Jimili L. Macaraeg and other officers including yours truly, were extended to the bereaved family and they were likewise assured that our aid will still be available even if the remains of Sgt. Escalona is already transferred to Ilocos Sur."
Biazon believes that many city residents have the same condition based on the number of people who go to his office to request for assistance for the treatment of sickness caused by diabetes or for dialysis, and the causes of death of people he learned during his visits to wakes.
“Hindi ito pormal at scientific na pag-aaral o survey, ito ay ordinaryong obserbasyon ko lang batay sa karanasan. Pero ito ang realidad (This is not a formal and scientific study or survey. This is my ordinary observation based on my experience. But this is reality),” he said.
Biazon said one of his priority programs as mayor will be health.
“Kapag pinag-usapan ang kalusugan, hindi ito limitado sa pagpapagamot sa ospital o health center. Dapat holistic ang approach. Ibig sabihin, sinasaklaw nito ang lahat ng aspeto ng pangangalaga ng ating katawan (When we talk of health, this is not limited to treatment at a hospital or health center. There should be a holistic approach. This means this encompasses all aspects of taking care of our health),” he explained.
He emphasized that besides getting the services when people get sick, also important are the services to help people to avoid illness and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“Para sa layunin na ito, mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng aktibo at agresibong education and information campaign tungkol sa mga hakbang tungo sa malusog na pamumuhay --- wastong pagkain na may tamang nutrisyon, sapat na physical activity at exercise at regular na pagpapatingin kahit walang nararamdmang sakit. (For this purpose, it is important to have active and aggressive education and information campaign about the steps toward a healthy lifestyle–proper diet with correct nutrition, enough physical activity and exercise, and regular checkups even in the absence of symptoms),” he said.
He said the implementation of health and wellness program should be supported by facilities and services that can be used by residents to maintain their health or recover from an illness.