Tragic lineman death in Escalante City
A 24-year-old lineman died after being electrocuted while working to energize a transformer in Barangay Balintawak, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, Oct. 11. Police identified the victim as Orly, an employee of a private contractor and a resident of Victorias City, Negros Occidental. An official from Escalante City Police Station said Orly touched a live wire from a secondary power line, triggering the fatal accident.
Colleagues coordinating with the Northern Negros Electric Cooperative (Noneco) to energize the transformer reported the incident. A power interruption occurred as crews worked to restore power, and it took more than an hour for rescuers and Noneco personnel to remove Orly from the top of the electrical post. He was declared dead at a hospital, according to Police Captain Lindsey Caraballe, the deputy chief of the Escalante City Police Station.
The accident underscores the dangers faced by utility workers during energization operations. Investigators are expected to review safety procedures and the sequence of events that led to the electrocution, as authorities gather statements from witnesses and company representatives.
Other Weekend: Abandoned vans with illicit cigarettes found in Basay, Negros Oriental
In a separate development on the same weekend, authorities discovered two abandoned panel vans loaded with illicit cigarettes in Purok 6, Barangay Nagbo-alao, Basay, Negros Oriental. The Highway Patrol Unit–Negros Island Region (HPU-NIR) observed several individuals transferring master cases of smuggled cigarettes into the vehicles. Upon noticing law enforcement, the suspects fled the scene.
Police, with support from other agencies, secured the area and coordinated with the Bureau of Customs and other relevant authorities for verification and inventory. The value of the contraband will be determined through an official inventory and valuation process led by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Authorities stressed that the ongoing case involves smuggling and will be investigated to identify and prosecute those responsible for moving contraband goods. The events highlight ongoing concerns over illicit trade in the region and the steps authorities are taking to address it.
