A Calamba, Laguna Maritime Academy student died after being punished by his senior class officer because he had sent a thumbs-up emoji in an online group chat.
The victim, Vince Andrew Delos Reyes, 19, was declared dead on arrival at the Global Medical Center of Laguna.
According to the Calabarzon Police Regional Office, the cadet was summoned to his upperclassman's cabin to answer for an offense: "accidentally messaging the group chat of the corps of cadets with a thumbs up."
Delos Reyes was instructed to do physical exercises but had difficulty breathing and collapsed.
Three witnesses to the incident took Delos Reyes to the infirmary, where they attempted to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). His pulse remained weak, which prompted them to transfer him to the hospital. He died an hour and a half after the incident, however.
The senior officer has been placed under the custody of the Calamba City Police Station.
