LINGAYEN–He wanted to be a priest. His siblings wanted him to become a seaman. He eventually became a teacher for seven years, and then decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, a retired police superintendent.

But Ronald Paglingayen of Barangay Libsong East failed to pursue his dream. He was among the 175 new police recruits from Region 1 undergoing training in La Union when he died after succumbing to leptospirosis.

Paglingayen, 29, a husband and father to a three-month old daughter, was the only son of retired Police Superintendent Roge-lio Paglingayen, deputy provincial jail warden and wife Nena.

He died Monday while undergoing treatment at the regional center in La Union.

Leptospirosis, a disease caused by a bacterium called Leptospira, is spread mainly by contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals.

The disease can be contracted by swimming or wading in fresh unchlorinated water contaminated with animal urine or by coming into contact with wet soil or plants contaminated with animal urine. The disease also can be transmitted through direct contact with urine, blood or tissue from an infected animal.

Mrs. Paglingayen, in a phone interview with The PUNCH said her son was in good physical condition as per his medical records when he entered the police force for training.

Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, provincial police director, said the Ilocos police, which handle the training, are still undergoing its probe to find out what led to the death of Paglingayen.

Paglingayen’s remains lie in state at their residence in Barangay Libsong East here. He will be buried on Sunday.

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