Navy trainee's death: Family seeks NBI probe as Navy investigation drags on

The Philippine Navy on Wednesday said it has not yet finished conducting its own investigation into the death of a 25-year-old Navy Officer candidate last July. Philippine Navy spokesperson Marissa Martinez issued this statement after the parents of Aldwayne Agnaonao Dulnuan sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to probe his death last July 22 during a training in Zambales. “The Philippine Navy confirms that investigations of the incident remain ongoing, through its own internal proceedings and the independent probe conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police,” Martinez said in a statement sent to the Inquirer. Dulnuan’s parents, Stella and Arnold, said that the Philippine Navy committed to them to launch its investigation into the incident, but they noted that they have not received any updates even 49 days after their son died. In response, Martinez said that the results are not yet available, “since the Navy wants to ensure that the findings are sound and comprehensive and that nothing and no one has been overlooked.” Martinez also said the Navy respects Aldwayne’s family’s decision to seek another independent investigation into the incident. It then committed to coordinate with the CIDG and other concerned agencies to ensure that proper procedures will lead to the resolution of the case. Atty. Dwight Dangilan, Aldwayne’s family’s legal counsel, said that they sought the help of the NBI on Wednesday to determine whether there was foul play in his death. Citing Aldwayne’s death certificate issued by Ulticare Medical Center in Olongapo City, the spokesperson detailed that his cause of death was septic shock with antecedent central nervous system infection and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which is an underlying cause of pulmonary hemorrhage and acute kidney injury. “No autopsy was performed, and the Certificate of Death makes no finding as to the manner of death. Records reviewed to date contain no documented findings of trauma,” Martinez added. In an interview with the media, Stella narrated how she found out what happened to her son, noting that she received a message that her son was brought to the hospital due to dehydration. She said that she was wondering why her son was already intubated when they visited him at the hospital. “Kung kinakailangan na hukayin ulit kung ire-require ng NBI, gagawin po namin para lalabas ang katotohanan sa pagkamatay ng anak ko,” she said. Further, when asked why the family took over a month to ask for help from another agency, Arnold said that they were waiting for updates from the Philippine Navy on its independent probe. “Wala pang feedback sa amin, sa family, kung ano na ang sitwasyon, ano na ang nangyari. We cannot wait anymore. Maybe they will conduct their investigation but now we want to seek the help of other institutions,” Arnold said in the same interview.