Boy gets zapped trying to get kite

CEBU, Philippines – A 12-year-old boy is now in the hospital after being zapped after his kite caught on live electric wires in sitio Kabulakan, barangay Basak-Pardo, Cebu City the other day.

Christopher Rebonsa was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center for first-degree burns in his arm and right portion of his body.

His father Roberto said he has been warning his children against flying kites near electric wires.

"Na-anghelan pa gyud kay kun wa pa siya matagak sa ubos nga bahin adto siya mapilit sa atop," Roberto said.

Christopher was at the rooftop at the time and was thrown off by the powerful jolt, he reportedly fell 10 feet to the ground.

"Taas gyud ang iyang nahugan siguro nga 10 feet pero suwerte pa gyud siya. Akong hangyo sa mga bata nga dili na gyud mo kompiansa adto gyud sila magduwa og tabanog sa open nga lugar," Roberto said.

Basak-Pardo barangay captain Dave Tumulak said they tapped their barangay police and other employees to help the information drive initiated by the Visayan Electric Company.

"Kinahanglang motabang gyud ang mga ginikanan ani para ma-minimize ang problem. Dili ta magpaabot nga dunay mamatay ani tungod kay nakuryentehan," Tumulak said.

The city government, through City Ordinance 1471, prohibits the flying of kites in open spaces less than 3,000 square meters and near electric or telephone poles. Violators shall either pay a fine of P200 or be imprisoned for five days or suffer both.

Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Barangay Councils yesterday instructed all the barangay officials in Cebu City to strictly implement the ordinance banning the flying of kites in areas near high-tension wires.

Guadalupe barangay captain Eugenio “Jingjing” Faelnar, an ex-officio member of the city council, said he had sent memorandums to all barangay captains, particularly those in urban areas.

“Ang tinuod dili na man g’yod unta kini angay’ng buhaton pa kay dili na man mga bata ang mga barangay officials, apan kay duna may uban nga tingali nakalimot, ato lang gihapon sila nga pahinumdoman,” Faelnar said.

But Faelnar believes some of the barangay officials ignore the reminder.

Kite enthusiasts sometimes glue tiny bits of glass or broken fluorescent lamps to their lines for kite duels, these bits of glass make the line more conductive to electricity.

Kite flying in the streets is also described as dangerous because the children fail to notice vehicular traffic when focusing on their kites. –Ramil V. Ayuman and Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)