A 20-YEAR-OLD man died due to electrocution in Barangay Conalum, Argao, Cebu, Thursday, May 30, 2019.
Neil John Quillosa died when he accidentally touched a live wire attached to an improvised fishing gear (that uses electricity) used by his cousins and uncle in fishing.
Police Corporal Apolinar Albiso of Argao Police Station said Quillosa and his group were electrofishing in one of the rivers in Barangay Conalum when the incident happened.
“Kana wa na siya nidungan sa grupo. Niapas lang na siya. Siya’y nipuli didto. Unya padung na sila human na. Padung na biya ug off sa plangka nga gi-konektan sa wire didto sa balay nga duol,” he said.
It is possible that Quillosa was unaware that the device was not unplugged yet, he added.
Rain Nerio, supervisor of the Argao Disaster Risk Reduction Command Center, said they received a report about the incident at 11:22 a.m.
Quillosa was rushed to a district hospital in Barangay Bogo, Argao but was declared dead on arrival.
Albiso said electrofishing or the use of direct current electricity in fishing can be considered illegal if used for recreation.
“Illegal jud na. Mamatay man gud ang mga gagmay nga isda gud ana gud. Wala namo maaktohi. Kung naaktohan pa to namo nga nanguha, mapasakahan pa to namo og kaso unta,” he said.
Albiso, however, could not confirm if the said activity is rampant in the area.
“Ingon ang manghod ni Quillosa, ikaduha nato nila nga higayon karong summer,” he said.
Albiso added they already advised the local barangay officials of Conalum to coordinate and to report to them any cases of illegal fishing. (SunStar Cebu)