The dream of a 17-year-old graduating student to become a police officer was struck down by lightning that killed the boy in Barangay Cayasan, Camiling, Tarlac.

The victim, Justin Corpuz, a Grade 12 student, was set to graduate on May 31, 2024. He was the eldest of three siblings.

According to his father, Mario, they went to the field to retrieve their cattle. The weather was cloudy at that time, and there were flashes of lightning. All of a sudden, lightning struck Justin, causing him to collapse.

“Kitang-kita ko dahil mga 15 meters lang ang layo niya sakin, kaya nagkatapat kaming naglalakad pauwi… biglang siyang yumuko at biglaang dapa na,” Mario said.

The lighting reportedly almost burned Justin's clothes. 

Mario said the keys his son was bringing may have attracted the lightning.

Mylene Corpuz, the victim’s mother, said Justin had been saving money for college.

“Masakit, para kaming pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa… Napakabait [niya] na bata, kada pagdating ko, nagawa na niya ‘yung mga dapat gawin, [kagaya ng] paghuhugas pingan,” Mylene said.

Authorities said lightning can strike anywhere and advised people to avoid open fields during thunderstorms. It is safer to take shelter in this situation.

“Kung naabutan ng thunderstorm sa labas, pinaka-best ay stay in lower grounds and avoid mga metal object,” Gabriel Paulo Gorospe, the Camiling Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer, said.