Joyride turns tragic for youth council chairman

A joyride on a borrowed barangay (village)-owned motorcycle turned tragic for a 16-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman late Wednesday night as his neck got caught in a low-lying cable wire, causing him and a companion to fall off their vehicle in Manila.

Julius Ceasar Catipon, SK chairman of Barangay 720, Zone 78, and a senior student of Villaroman High School in Malate, died while undergoing treatment at the Ospital ng Maynila from injuries on the head and body.

Senior Police Officer 2 Edgardo Ko, of the Manila Police District’s (MPD) homicide section, said the incident happened at around 10 p.m. along the sidewalk of Paraiso ng Batang Maynila at the corner of President Quirino Avenue and Adriatico Street in Malate.

Ko said that before the incident, Catipon had borrowed the barangay’s service motorcycle and had asked a 16-year-old friend to join him for a ride.

Ko said that when the teenager maneuvered through the sidewalk of the city park along Adriatico Street, Catipon did not notice the low-lying wire until his neck got caught in it, causing him and his friend to fall off the motorcycle.

Catipon’s friend, who was not identified, was slightly injured and asked bystanders to help bring Catipon to the nearest hospital. Catipon subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

MPD homicide section personnel are conducting a further investigation into the incident to determine if anybody could be held liable for the mishap.