PELCO-3 lineman electrocuted, falls on floodwaters

MASANTOL - A lineman of Pampanga III Electric Cooperative (PELCO-3) was accidentally electrocuted while conducting service disconnection in Barangay San Isidro, this town on Monday morning.

Chief Inspector Nestor Bulatao, Jr., this town’s police chief, said that the victim identified as Robert Christian Asuncion, a resident of nearby Macabebe town, was in the process of disconnecting a service line of a consumer when he came in contact with a live wire.

Upon touching the live wire, Asuncion’s body immediately reacted and he lost grip of the pole and fell down in the road submerged in at least three inches of floodwaters, Bulatao further repor t ed.

“Based on the interview of the victim’s companion during the incident, they were already done with their service disconnection activities when they noticed that a meter was left open. Asuncion went up again to seal it but unfortunately, he was electrocuted,” he said.

Bulatao said Asuncion was immediately rushed to the Macabebe District Hospital, but was transferred to the Pampanga Premier Hospital in Apalit. Later that day, PELCO-3 management ordered the transfer of Asuncion to the Medical City Clark for appropriate medical attention. He is still in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Bulatao said that they already ruled out the angle of foul play, but will still conduct further interviews with Asuncion’s companion about the incident, particularly if the victim was wearing complete safety gears.