By Mar T. Supnad
MARIVELES, Bataan – The dreaded coronavirus disease claimed another life, this time a public servant for the last four decades.
Barangay Captain Roberto M. Arcenal, Sr., 70, of Alas asin, died before dawn today, Sept. 13.
“Our beloved father barangay captain Bert Arcenal died early this morning while being confined at Bataan General Hospital,” said Councilor Ronald Arcenal.
The older Arcenal started serving the public way back 1980s.
When asked for confirmation, Dr. Ria Baltazar, chief of BGH neither confirmed nor denied Arcenal’s cause of death: “We are not authorized to confirm or deny. Data privacy act must be observed,” added Dr. Baltazar.
Asked what caused the village chief’s sudden demise, “it was reportedly COVID-19, according to his doctor,” said Councilor Arcenal in his text message with this writer.
Captain Arcenal’s death brought to 22 the number of death due Covid in Bataan, while the number of infected were 1,374 as of September 10.
Mariveles town registers the biggest number of infected in Bataan, prompted Gov. Abet Garcia and Mayor Jo Castańeda to place Nine barangays here under total lockdown.
“The whole family of Mariveles Town , on Mayor’s leadership, Jocelyn P. Castañeda, condolences to those left behind by our beloved Captain Robert ′Bert ‘Arcenal Sr.
“We sincerely offer prayers to Kap. Bert Arcenal. He helped so many of our countrymen. He dedicated a large portion of his life to serving the citizens of his beloved Barangay Alasasin.
“We deeply mourn…Thank you so much for offering yourself to our town, Kap Bert,”said Mayor Castańeda in a statement.