CEBU CITY, June 23 (PNA) — A 23-year-old police officer Tuesday died of accidental electrocution during counter-insurgency training inside the headquarters of the Regional Public Safety Batallion (RPSB) 7 in Barangay Bahay, Sibonga town, some 65 kilometers south of Cebu City.
Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, RPSB 7 chief, identified the fatality as Police Officer 1 Christopher Ruiz Jr., a resident of Labogon, Mandaue City.
Gairanod said Ruiz was with ten other officers, training on “internal security operation.”
He said the initial inquiry showed Ruiz’s death was an accident, but they are conducting a deeper investigation on the incident.
He said the group passed by the St. Joseph Chapel at past 10 a.m., where Ruiz accidentally touched a live wire and suffered electric shock.
RPSB 7’s medics gave first aid to Ruiz before he was rushed to Sibonga Rural Health Center.
Ruiz was later brought to the South General Hospital in Naga City. He was declared dead at past 1 p.m.
His father, Christopher Ruiz Sr., a lawyer and former police officer, said his namesake entered the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in 2013.
But he failed to continue in the academy, after he and more than 80 cadets were allegedly forced to resign without legal grounds.
Ruiz, who had a bachelor’s degree in information technology, eventually fulfilled his dream to become a member of the police force after he graduated from the Regional Training School in Consolacion last June 16. (PNA)