A man who was allegedly trying to illegally tap into power lines at his community fell to his death in Islang Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila on early Wednesday.
According to Nico Waje’s report on “Saksi,” some houses still had no electricity following the massive fire that hit the area weeks ago.
This pushed the 30-year-old victim to climb a post and try to connect his home to the power lines.
“Naisipan nitong kumonekt o kung ano yung gagawin dun sa ano, at ang hinihinala po natin na siya ay mayroong balak mag-jumper ng kuryente, magnakaw ng kuryente,” said Police Captain Dennis Turla, chief of the MPD Homicide Section.
(He thought of connecting or doing something on the post. We are thinking that he was trying to steal electricity.)
“Nagulat na lang itong mga tao sa lugar na biglaan siyang bumagsak. May nag-spark, parang pumutok, at nalaglag siya sa poste,” he added.
(Everyone was shocked when he fell from the post. Something sparked and he fell to his death.)
The victim was dead on arrival in the hospital after suffering burns on his chest and wounds on the head and legs.
Aside from the danger it poses, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) warned the public that electricity theft is prohibited by law.
“Huwag na po natin gawin ‘yan kasi either mahuli tayo ng alagad ng batas o masaktan tayo o mahulog tayo kung mataas yung tina-tap-an natin,” said Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga.
(Let’s avoid doing that because it’s either law enforcers will go after you, or you could get hurt, or fall if you are tapping into something high.)
GMA Integrated News has reached out to the victim’s family for a comment. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
