Boy and old woman zapped dead

CEBU, Philippines - A three-year-old boy was electrocuted after he touched the wire of a washing machine in his house last Friday afternoon in Sitio Sibagay, Barangay Cantabaco, Toledo City.

James Caryl Reyes Camocamo was rushed by his father, Amando, to the Toledo City Hospital, but he was declared dead by the attending physician.

Amando and his wife Marcia are scrap buyers. They have six children and James Caryl is the fifth.

The responding officer, SPO1 Thule Tahadlangit, said that couple was sleeping with their children inside their house at 2 p.m. when James Caryl woke up and went near the door where the washing machine was placed.

The washing machine had just been bought from a customer and was being used by the couple because it was in functional.

"Mura'g tan-aw nila mapuslan pa man… gi-ayo nila," Tahadlangit said in a phone interview.

The washing machine's back was open and there were a lot of exposed wirings. The couple also forgot to unplug it after using it.

"Gisunod unta sa amahan ang bata unya mao na may nakit-an nga nagkirig-kirig na," Tahadlangit said.

The boy's body was subjected to an autopsy at the Saint Francis Mortuary in Barangay Poblacion.

Police are now investigating if parents of the victim have liabilities for negligence.

Meanwhile, a 65-year-old woman also died after she came into contact with live wire while helping in putting out a fire that burned three houses in Barangay Anapog, San Remigio town, last Friday night.

Elisa Sinahonon, 65, suffered third-degree burns all over her body and died on the spot. She was no longer taken to the hospital.

Residents in the said barangay were helping in putting out the fire that started at the house of the couple Romeo and Haide Sinahonon before firefighters from the San Remigio Fire Station arrived at the scene.

SFO1 Edgardo Quiamco, desk-in-charge, said that cause of fire is traceable to electrical misuse.

Investigation revealed that Haide left a heater charged and unattended at her house while she was watching a television program at the house of her neighbor. A loud burst was heard before Haide's house was on fire.

The fire then engulfed two other houses owned by Rolando Edaño and Marlo Sinahonon. All houses were made of light materials.

The residents helped to fight the fire, Elisa was about to pitch in when she came into contact with a live wire connected to an electric post that had been burned by the fire.

"Kanang nahugno nga linya unya iyahang giwahing," Quiamco said in a phone interview.

Firemen arrived and controlled the fire within two minutes. Fire out was declared before midnight and the estimated damage was pegged at P150,000.

About four hours later, a man who was believed to have committed suicide by shooting himself was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head in Barangay Tina-an, Naga City.

Samuel Rivera, 72, was found dead in his room by his daughter-in-law who came to bring him dinner around 6 p.m.

Crime Scene Investigation-Cebu Provincial Police Office recovered a 9mm revolver from the room.

Police suspected that Rivera shot himself. However, they are still investigating the motive behind the suicide. (FREEMAN)