Cops hit by lightning back in training

CEBU, Philippines- Thirteen of the 18 Regional Mobile Group (RMG) trainees who were struck by lightning in Barangay Lamacan, Sibonga were back to barracks and were scheduled to resume training yesterday, after physicians declared them out of danger.

Two of the five who were confined at the Intensive Care Unit of South General Hospital in Naga were also transferred to other rooms in the hospital late afternoon yesterday as their conditions improved, said Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Director of RMG.

Lawas said that they will also be released later and resume training, which is set to end by third week of this month.

Lawas said the 13 policemen allowed to resume training were the seven confined at the PNP Hospital inside Cebu City Police Office headquarters in Gorordo Avenue and six patients from the South General Hospital.

Three policemen, including PO1 Aidrin Laurente whose shotgun was struck with lightning, remain at the ICU for further monitoring as their heart rate was still below normal, Lawas said.

The 18 victims are part of the 321 policemen who were undergoing anti-insurgency training five kilometers away from their battalion headquarters in Camp Ceferino Genovia in Barangay Bahay, Sibonga when lightning struck them while they were taking their lunch under the rain last Tuesday. Because of the incident, the Field Training Exercise of the policemen was suspended.

Although it was already sunny yesterday and last Wednesday, their training was held closer to Camp Genovia.

Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, ordered the suspension of the training immediately after the incident last Tuesday afternoon. He assured that all 321 policemen, including those hit by lightning, will graduate. He said that those who are currently at the ICU are not necessarily in critical condition and can go back to training as soon as possible.