Teen Drowns, Laborer Struck by Lightning

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A 14-year-old boy and a 57-year-old laborer died in separate incidents involving drowning and a lightning strike in Negros Occidental on Jan. 3 and 4.

In Pontevedra town, a 57-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning in Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto last Saturday.

Police identified the victim as Trinidad Baliguat, a resident of the same village.

Police Capt. Darryl Kuhutan, chief of the Pontevedra Police, said Baliguat was directly hit by lightning while working in a sugarcane field during the rain.

Kuhutan said it took her companions about an hour to find her. Her niece later reported the incident to the police.

Baliguat was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy drowned in a river in Barangay Manalad, Ilog town, last Friday.

Police Major Randy Babor, chief of Ilog Police, said the boy had been swimming with three other minors when he was swept away by a strong river current.

Babor said some residents attempted to locate the boy underwater but were unsuccessful.

Rescuers retrieved the boy’s body two hours later, he added.