Victim in fluvial parade mishap seen as hero

MASANTOL, Pampanga – Local officials here are considering giving honor to a 32-year-old man who died after reportedly saving others from electrocution during a fluvial procession that ended in tragedy in Barangay Alauli Sunday.

Vice Mayor Bajun Lacap also revealed that police rescue teams had recovered the body of 13-year-old Julius Valdez yesterday morning on the banks of the Pampanga River in Barangay Sagrada, some two kilometers from where he fell off the barge.

The body was brought to the barangay hall and transported by a local ambulance to his family’s home in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

Barangay Alauli chairman Roberto Hernandez told The STAR that Jessie Ambrosio was seen minutes before he was thrown off the barge, pulling to safety two others.

Mayor Peter Flores told reporters that Ambrosio was able to save at least three children before he drowned.

His body was found a few hours after the accident.

“There were witnesses around who actually saw him saving at least two persons on the barge. We are looking into this so that we can propose to the municipal government that he be honored for heroism,” Hernandez said.

Lacap said Ambrosio was the personal secretary of Barangay Balibago chairperson Virginia Lacap.

Ambrosio and Valdez were among 100 persons on board a barge that bore the image of the Virgen la Purissima Concepcion during a traditional fluvial parade held annually by Alauli folk after New Year’s Day.

During the procession, the cross on top of the arc came into contact with an electric wire that relayed electricity to island barangays.

“Those who were holding on to the arc and those seated or standing near it were the ones who suffered burns,” Hernandez said.

He cited witnesses as saying that Ambrosio apparently was not among those directly affected by the electric current, but “he was seen pulling away two others who were electrocuted.”

Aside from those on the crowded barge, hundreds of others were on the riverbanks and smaller boats to witness the fluvial procession when the accident occurred.

Hernandez has quoted witnesses as saying that Ambrosio was electrocuted and subsequently fell into the river because of his attempt to save other people.

He said as soon as Ambrosio’s act of heroism is established barangay officials would formally ask the municipal government to honor him.

Meanwhile, Lacap said he did not pursue plans to declare a state of calamity in Alauli since there was an initial P200,000 from local funds available to assist Ambrosio’s family in funeral expenses, as well as the medical needs of the others who sustained various injuries.

He said most of the injured were allowed to go home after being treated, but two are still in a hospital in Malolos, Bulacan and one in neighboring Macabebe, Pampanga.

Hernandez said he and other barangay officials in Alauli still have to discuss whether they would continue with their traditional fluvial parade.

“The steel arc was merely borrowed from Barangay Bebe Anac because the wooden arc we had been using in the past years had already deteriorated,” he said, noting that the steel arc was as tall as their old wooden arc.

The accident happened after the pagoda hit the 13,000 kilovoltz primary line of the Pampanga Electric Cooperative that crosses the river.

“The arc touched the electric wire because there was high tide,” Hernandez said. – Ric Sapnu