Army lieutenant who died on Holy Week negative for Covid-19

FILE: 2nd Lt. Vince Magbanua. (Photo courtesy of PMA Alab-Tala Class of 2018 Facebook page via PNA)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that 2nd Lt. Vince Magbanua, who passed away last week in Bulacan after experiencing difficulty in breathing, tested negative for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

“We wish to announce that the late Army 2nd Lt. Vince Magbanua’s test for Covid-19 infection yielded negative per RITM (Research Institute for Tropical Medicine) test,” AFP spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters late Tuesday.

Magbanua, 24, was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2018.

He was assigned as a platoon leader and executive officer of the weapons company of the Headquarters Service Battalion, 48th Infantry Battalion based in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan.

He was declared dead on arrival at the Norzagaray Municipal Hospital on Holy Wednesday where he was rushed after complaining of severe difficulty in breathing.

Magbanua’s remains were cremated at the Bernard de Guzman Funeral and Crematory in Barangay Sta. Clara, Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Maundy Thursday.

His brother, 2nd Lt. Vico Magbanua, represented his family during the cremation rites.