3 Boy Scouts die of electrocution in Zamboanga jamboree
ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 12 Dec) – Three senior Boy Scouts died after getting electrocuted as they were transferring a tent that got in contact with a live wire during a jamboree at the Climaco Freedom Park in Abong-Abong, Pasonanca Thursday morning, authorities said.
Ten other Boy Scouts who helped out in moving the tent around 9 a.m. also got electrocuted and were brought to the Zamboanga City Medical Center, according to a report from Police Station 7, who had personnel at the campsite.
Because of the incident, Mayor John M. Dalipe immediately called off the four-day 2024 Council Scout Jamboree on its first day. More than 1,000 Boy Scouts attended the event.
“The Boy Scouts of the Philippines takes full responsibility. What happened was something unforeseen, and no one wanted it,” said lawyer Jose Rizalindo Ortega, chairperson of the BSP’s Zamboanga City Council.
Butch Ignacio Alejabo, overall in charge of the jamboree, said that the students were transferring a big canopy tent from the road going to the camp. However, the upper pointed metal part of the tent hit a live wire of the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative (ZAMCELCO), resulting in the electrocution of the Boy Scouts.
Policemen posted at the camp, in coordination with personnel of the Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ZCDRRMO), rushed the Boy Scouts to the hospital right away.
Police identified the fatalities as Kevin Emmanuel Iguid, a Grade 12 student of the Zamboanga City High School (ZCHS) Main; Geoffree Guilar Atilano, also Grade 12 from the same school; and Alvin Aguilar Gasfar, of Recodo National High School. All three were aged 17.
Atilano was the vice president of the student council, according to Anna Candido-Acudo, who teaches at the ZCHS-Main.
Police said Iguid passed away at 9:40 a.m., Gasfar at 9:44 a.m., and Atilano at 9:48 a.m.
The other 10 who are still fighting for their lives at the hospital are Fraziel Arkasaha Sahibuddin, 12; Alwin Macaso Manding, 12; Nashmar Jawadin Haradji, 11; all from Barangay Tulungatung;
John Pabuaya Magquilat, 17; Aldrian Halun Majid, 18; Jerome Ampahan Ochea, 17; of Barangay Recodo;
Axxelle Shawn Garcia, 18, of Cabatangan; Francis Xavier Ganob Francisco, 16, of Barangay Lumbangan; Rochel Lou Puhayan Hera, of Barangay Maasin; and Gestony Ralph Coronel Lai, 11, of Barangay Baluno.
BSP’s Ortega said they will help the Boy Scouts in whatever way they can.
He noted that there were medics on site and personnel of the ZCDRRMO. “However, the carrying of the canopy tent was not expected,” Ortega said.
ZAMCELCO, in its Facebook page, vowed to “cooperat(e) with the relevant authorities in their investigation and is taking immediate steps to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding this incident.”
Alejabo said the jamboree was held to bring together scouts from various locations to promote camaraderie, leadership, skills development, and cultural exchange. It serves as a venue for scouts to demonstrate their abilities, learn new skills, and engage in team-building activities, he added. (Frencie L. Carreon / MindaNews)
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