TACLOBAN CITY — A police officer died while two other persons were injured after a metal post they were installing accidentally touched a live power line in Barangay Libertad, Ormoc City, Leyte, on Saturday afternoon.
The fatality, identified only as “Leo,” 55, was a member of the Philippine National Police assigned to Ormoc City Police Station 3.
Two of his companions, “Rico,” 42, a painter, and “Lex,” 27, a labore were injured but later reported to be in stable condition.
A report from the Ormoc City Police Station 4 said the incident occurred at around 4:20 p.m. in Purok 3 but was reported to authorities more than an hour later.
Responding officers found that all three victims had already been brought to a nearby hospital.
Initial investigation showed that the group was installing a metal post near an electric pole to set up a power line connection for the residence of one of the injured victims..
While attempting to raise the post, they encountered difficulty, prompting Leo to assist in positioning it.
As the post was being lifted, its tip reportedly came into contact with a live secondary power line, triggering a strong electric shock that threw the three men away from the point of contact and rendered them unconscious.
One of the injured victims regained consciousness while inside an ambulance en route to the hospital.
Upon arrival, Leo was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. The two other victims declined hospital admission after receiving initial medical attention.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and have urged the public to take extra precautions when working near electrical lines. /gsg