Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A tricycle driver who detached TV antennae at the
rooftop of his parents-in-laws in brgy. Combado here in this city was electrocuted
recently (one Sunday afternoon at 4:00p.m.)when he raised the TV antennae and
accidentally touched it on (Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc.)SOLECO’s
7,620 volts mainline transmission.
The victim was identified as Alexis Gamotan Costillas, 32 years old, married, a
resident of the newly-
turned over 24 houses at Josephina GK Village. This is located at the hilltop of
brgy. Combado overlooking the proper city and provide a breathtaking view of the
vast open ocean and farflung Camiguin and Bohol.Islands..
The victim’s elder sister Inocencia Costillas-Ramos, 40 years old, married, a
resident of brgy.Mambajao said that they heard an explosion nearby and learned
that his younger brother was electrocuted and fell upon the rooftop. Some members
of the family immediately climbed atop the roof to help him.
Costillas was rushed to the provincial hospital accompanied by his in-laws and
close relatives aboard the Bureau of Fire Protection’s rescue ambulance right
after the emergency call.
In an interview at the hospital the victim said he asked his parents-in-law to
get the TV antennae atop their house roof as this is not being used anymore for a
period of time. He said his parents-in-law gave their consent since they have
already shifted to cable TV for more TV programming.
When the TV antennae inserted to a steelpipe pole to provide a longer elevation
was detached from its position, he said, he raised it unmindful of his distance
from the mainline transmission above, adjacently traversing along his father-in-
law’s house. “Akong nabati nga daw may dakong kusog nga magnitong ningbira sa
antenna paigon sa itaas nga dili nako mapugngan ug nataban ako ug nakoryientehan
ako dihadiha,” he narrated in Cebuano.( “I felt as if there was a strong magnetic
force pulling the antennae that was hard to resist and I was automatically raised
upward together with the antennae I’m holding and I was electrocuted right there.)
He said he was carried up a few feet from the floor where he stood and
explosion followed after a few seconds and he fell on the rooftop.Th victim
sustained severe burns on his 2 feet’s soles including all his toes. His right
hand was swollen while his left hand was less affected, but both have burnt palms.
A certain SOLECO Engineer, who does not want to be named, disclosed that
SOLECO’s mainline transmission in brgy. Combado that has 13,200 volts “line to
line” and has 7,620 volts” line to ground” is still safe at a 2 feet distance from
a person, but risky in such a distance if the object is steel.
However, the estimated distance of half a meter length away from the mainline
as revealed during the victim’s interview is a miscalculation, the Engineer
claimed. “It must be nearer than what he has estimated that’s why he felt some
kind of force that strongly pulled the antennae and he was electrocuted”, he said.
A one foot away from the mainline is still safe for a lineman doing some repair
atop a lamppost, he also claimed. But he must be cautious with his movement up
there.”Neverthelss, a 2.5 feet distance from the mainline is much safer for any
electrician doing some repair above the post”, he said.
The victim’s painful burns have exposed the flesh and he felt a severe pain
every time he tried to walk wearing sandals. His elder sister said that he was
taking some medicines including injectable vials aside from the administration of
dextrose for physical support. It was learned that the burns/injuries were the
result when the powerful electric power has existed on different parts of his body
Dr. Reynaldo Tan, the victim’s attending physician, said that Costillas was
still under observation from 2 to
3 weeks or even more, depending upon his response to medications.
“Suwerte guihapon ang akong igsoon kay ningboto ang koryiente ug nahulog
siya.Kung wala pa moboto malagmit namatay na siya karon,”his sister said in
Cebuano. (My younger brother was still lucky that the electric power has exploded
upon electrocution. If it were not for the explosion, he might be dead by now”.)
A concerned citizen also suggested that anybody should refrain from building
his/her house near the mainline transmission to avoid accidental electrocution.
About 4 to 5 years ago, 2 young men in the same barangay were also electrocuted
during a rainy day. They were holding together a TV antenna with a pipepole
extension for a much longer range and inserted in a long bamboo tube ready for
transferring to a higher elevation to get a much clearer reception. However, the
antennae accidentally touched the mainline transmission as they raised it and were
automatically electrocuted. According to some witnesses the victims were thrown
away a few seconds later after the fatal electrocution with sparks coming out from
their bodies. They died anyway after a few minutes.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
July 24,2009
Southern Leyte Barangay Electrifications Shall Be Completed Before The End Of 2009
by Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr
July 24,2009