By Xander Ledesma
A tragic incident at a fishpond in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City, has led to the filing of a case against 62-year-old Wilfredo Libongcogon, who is being charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. The complaint comes after 13-year-old Jesray James Eltagonde died from electrocution at Libongcogon’s fishpond on Sunday, October 21, 2024.
According to police reports, Eltagonde and two friends were fishing at the pond when his rod got stuck in the fishpen’s net. As he attempted to retrieve it, Eltagonde came into contact with a live wire installed around the pen, causing him to be electrocuted and fall into the pond. Libongcogon reportedly delayed turning off the power, and the boy was later pronounced dead at Mandaue City Hospital.
Libongcogon was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody. He admitted to installing the live wire to prevent theft and protect the fish from birds, a practice that the Eltagonde family claims was negligent and directly led to the boy’s death.
The police continue to investigate the incident, with authorities stressing the need for pond operators to implement safety measures to avoid future tragedies. The prosecutor’s office is currently reviewing the case against Libongcogon.
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