A 39-year-old man died after being electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal electric cables in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City, early Sunday.
According to a report by Darlene Cay on “24 Oras Weekend,” authorities found the man already on fire atop an electrical post.
“May tumawag po sa amin na mayroon daw sumabog diyan sa may Lopez Footbridge around mga 1:50 a.m. So pagpunta namin doon, may mga kapulisan na rin po. Nakita nga po na may nasusunog na tao,” barangay desk officer Ryan Fernandez said.
(Someone called us saying something exploded near the Lopez Footbridge around 1:50 a.m. When we arrived, police were already there, and we saw a person on fire.)
Personnel from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) later retrieved the body from the post.
Initial investigation showed the man had been cutting electrical cables when he was electrocuted. The incident caused a circuit trip that disrupted power supply to several households in the area.
Barangay officials said it was not the first time the man had climbed an electrical post and noted he had prior blotter records related to theft.
“Mayroon siyang mga record, mga blotter na ano siya sa nakawan,” Fernandez said.
(He has records and police blotters related to theft.)
The victim’s family lit candles beneath the electrical post and appealed to the public not to judge him hastily.
“Panawagan ko sa publiko, hindi naman nila nakita yung totoo,” the man’s brother said.
(My plea to the public is that they did not see the whole truth.)
For its part, Meralco warned that stealing, selling, or buying electrical cables is prohibited by law and poses serious safety risks.
“Bukod sa paglabag sa batas, napakalaki ng panganib ng pagnanakaw ng kable dahil maaari itong magresulta sa matinding pagkakakuryente, seryosong pinsala, o kamatayan,” said Joe Zaldarriaga, Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications.
(Aside from violating the law, stealing cables is extremely dangerous and may result in severe electrocution, serious injury, or death.)
Authorities reminded the public that tampering with power infrastructure is punishable by fines and possible imprisonment.—Vince Angelo Ferreras/MCG, GMA Integrated News
