Mentally-ill man rescued after climbing up NGCP tower

By Jennifer P. Rendon

 

A mentally challenged man was rescued after scaling up an NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) transmission tower at Jaro, Iloilo City Saturday morning.

Police identified the victim as alias Mac-Mac. It is believed that he lives near the NGCP transmission tower at Barangay Buhang.

Captain Jose Mark Anthony Gesulga, Jaro police chief, said a passerby saw Mac-Mac atop of the transmission tower around 9:40 am Saturday.

Police personnel were sent to the area to assist in the traffic and crowd control.

Members of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Iloilo City and other fire volunteers and rescuers were sent to the area to negotiate for Mac-Mac’s dissent.

Gesulga said fire personnel had scaled the tower and asked the man to go with them.

“He peacefully went with them. There was really no need for negotiation,” he said.

Mac-Mac was lowered to safety at 11:50 a.m.

Gesulga said it was already Mac-Mac’s second time to climb the facility.