Pagadian City (June 26) — A student suffered cardiac death after attending a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) training in Zamboanga del Sur.

The 21-year-old cadet, identified as Roel Sedenio, was rushed to the hospital last Saturday after passing out during a morning physical fitness routine that was part of a one-month advanced training in Barangay Dao, Pagadian City.

Doctors at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center said he suffered from hyperventilation. They discharged Sedenio, saying he only needed some rest.

But while Sedenio was resting at the barracks in the compound of the Army Reserve Command, his co-trainees observed he was having seizures. Sedenio was brought back to the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Doctors said Sedenio died of cardiac dysrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat secondary to sepsis and pulmonary congestion.

Major Alberto Ramirez, director of the 903rd Community Defense Center, said Sedenio had fever prior to the incident and was advised to skip the activities the next morning, only to surface during the exercise. He said a thorough investigation is underway.

Sedenio's mother, Julita, told CNN Philippines she could not believe her son's death, noting that he seemed fit and healthy.

Sedenio, a third-year information technology student of Josefina H. Cerilles State College, was among the 272 aspiring cadet officers who participated in the training.

The ROTC program may soon be required for grades 11 and 12 students, as President Rodrigo Duterte certified as urgent Senate Bill No. 2232. Under the proposed measure, those physically or psychologically unfit or are part of the school's varsity team are exempted from mandatory ROTC training.