Laguna cop chief dies of heart attack in bikathon

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – The 49-year-old police chief of Pangil town in Laguna died of heart attack during a 35-kilometer bikathon of the Calabarzon regional police Saturday morning, officials said.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao, Region 4-A police director, said Senior Inspector Argel Guanizo was pronounced dead on arrival at the St. Cabrini Hospital in Sto. Tomas, Batangas at around 7:45 a.m. Saturday.

Pagdilao said the bikers had come from San Pablo City and were headed toward Camp Vicente Lim in Canlubang, Laguna when Gua­nizo collapsed along the highway.

The 35-km cycling caravan started at 6:30 a.m. in San Pablo City and passed through Alaminos in Laguna and Sto. Tomas in Batangas, and ended in Calamba City.

Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said Guanizo had just returned from Bicol Friday night but instead of resting, attended to his work before joining the bikathon.

”It could be over-fatigue,” Cruz told reporters.

Cruz said police officers undergo physical check-ups twice a year and Guanizo had passed them.

The bikathon dubbed “Padyak Para sa Kapayapaan” was a peace advocacy campaign of the Calabarzon police, which has jurisdiction over the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, in connection with the peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo and Presidential Communications Group Secretary Sonny Coloma graced the event.