‘Druggie’ rescued from tower, surrenders sachet of ‘shabu’

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – An alleged drug peddler was rescued after he climbed up a 150-foot tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) at Barangay Mansilingan here Wednesday.

Police Major Carmelo Nermal, head of Police Station 7, said they responded to a call for assistance after Ives Pelowa, 33, of the said village, attempted to jump off tower around 10 a.m.

The negotiation lasted for more than six hours until he was persuaded by his sibling and the authorities to come down around 4:30 p.m. He was unharmed.

Pelowa was then brought to the barangay hall, where he confessed his reasons for his actions.

Nermal said Pelowa, who was allegedly suffering from depression, went up the tower because he was allegedly not allowed to see his children.

Pelowa was arrested last year in a drug bust here and was released from jail through plea bargaining in May 2019.

Nermal said that Pelowa admitted he was under the influence of drugs when he attempted to commit suicide that afternoon.

Nermal said he also surrendered a sachet of suspected shabu amounting to P45,000 to the village chief, who talked to him after the incident.

Pelowa was placed under the custody of the police, and was safely brought home by his family the following day, after he underwent medical examination.