Man, pal electrocuted while looking for internet signal

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A teenager died and so did his friend who tried to save him from electrocution.

The incident happened 3 am on August 12 at the workplace of the victims James Karl Saragena and Arjun Selicia at JNJ Dressing Plant in Barangay Nabitasan, Leganes, Iloilo.

Saragena, 18, and Selicia, 22, both residents of Barangay Bagumbayan, San Joaquin, Iloilo, died on the scene.

Police Captain Roy Tayona, Leganes police chief, said a physician was called to check and pronounced the two dead.

The two young men ended their duty early morning of Wednesday at the dressing plant, which operates on a 24-hour basis.

Saragena wanted to make a video call with a Filipina based in Bahrain.

“The cellphone signal is bad in the area. Internet signal is even worse,” Tayona said.

The teenager looked for a good spot and went up the plant building’s rooftop, together with Selicia and 22-year-old Angelo Sidlao.

It is believed that Saragena touched the live wire hooked to the plant’s transformer and was electrocuted.

Selicia tried to save his friend, but he too, got electrocuted.

Sidlao, on the other hand, immediately descended from the roof top to ask for help.

Tayona said other co-workers immediately switched off the circuit breaker.

When they went up to check on the two victims, the latter were already on their backs, their skin discolored, and their shirts torn.

Saragena’s video chat mate was unaware when the electrocution happened.