18 cops injured by lightning in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Eighteen police officers who were undergoing anti-insurgency training were hurt after being hit by lightning yesterday afternoon in a mountainous area at sitio Camansili, barangay Lamacan in Sibonga, Cebu.

Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, training director of the Regional Public Safety Battalion in the region, said one of the trainees, Police Officer 1 Aidrin Llorente, was directly hit by lightning, which struck his shotgun.

Llorente suffered trauma but recovered after receiving medical treatment.

Lawas said one officer sustained lacerations on his head, while the other victims suffered minor shock.

Police, however, could not explain exactly what happened. 

The other victims were identified as PO1 Marjuel Molina, PO1 Edward Gonzales, PO1 Edmund Sumalinog, PO1 Norman Luage, PO1 Leah Seraña, PO1 Obdulia Baring, PO1 Erick Diamante, PO1 Geoffrey Aparece, PO1 Junrey Garigade, PO1 Richard Cabat-bat, PO1 Barry Entea, PO1 Benedicto Ejan, PO1 Darryl Mark Biolangco, PO1 Cesar Gaboie, PO1 Rey Dur Duran, PO1 Silvano Bascones and PO1 Galarce.  – Cecille Suerte Felipe