A live wire wound around a wire fence electrocuted a couple in Janiuay town, Province of Iloilo.
The couple was identified as Unicisimo and Larica Cronico who eked out a living by farming in Barangay Jibolo.
Their youngest child, Erika Cronico, has demanded justice for what she deemed as a senseless death.
“Yan lang ang hiling ko na mabigyan ng hustisya ang aking mama at papa,” Erika said.
According to Erika, her parents were set to clean the area from weeds when her mother snagged the wire fence at about 8 a.m. on April 8, 2025.
She said her father came to help her mother and was also electrocuted.
The bodies of the couple were discovered in the evening.
The owner of a lot has placed a warning about the live wire, but it is located a meter from the fence.
“Mag-i-expect ba si mama na may live wire dahil nandun ang may high voltage sa bakod, nasa labas na ang kanilang live wire. Iligal talaga yan,” Erika pointed out.
According to the police, the couple’s farm is adjacent to a private lot where chickens are grown.
The owner of the private lot identified as Giovani Adelantar placed live wire on the wire fence to protect reportedly the area from thieves.
“Ang caretaker, tuwing araw kinukuha nila ang kuryente dahil panggabi lang ang live wire. Ang problema, hindi kaagad na-off ng caretaker ang switch ng kanilang live wire. Diyan namin nakikita na ang may-ari ng farm, meron ding lapses,” Captain Hector Ayagan, chief of Janiuay Municipal Police Station, said.
Barangay Jibolo Chairman Nilo Carman confirmed that the owner of the poultry farm did not ask permission on the installation of live wire on his fence.
“Hindi nga namin alam na nilagyan nila doon. Hindi naman namin alam na ninakawan sila, wala namang naka-report dito,” Carman said.
A lawyer said that given the circumstance, the owner is culpable in the death of the couple.
“Ang kaso niyan, reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. Without prejudice, may violation rin na most likely sa regulation pertaining sa electrical code natin kasi dapat diyan sa paglalagay ng kuryente, may mga permisong kinakailangan,” said Atty. Hernando Galvez.
The management of Iloilo 2 Electric Cooperative (ILECO 2) has investigated the incident.
According to the area engineer, installing a live wire is highly dangerous.
“Ang nag-i-install ng live wire supposed to be, dapat electrical practitioner or electrical engineer dahil ang pag-install ng mga perimeter lines with live (wire), naka-indicate yan sa Philippine Electrical Code,” Engr. Rexon Espinosa, area engineer of ILECO 2 Janiuay Substation, explained.
The Cronico family clarified that they have not sought an amicable settlement with the owner of the private lot, contrary to what other individuals had said.
“Yan na nga ang nangyari sa magulang namin makikipag-areglo lang kami sa kanila?” an emotional Erika underscored.
GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to reach out for a comment from the owner of the poultry farm, but the news team was denied entry.
Janiuay Police, as of posting time, are waiting for the family of the victims to file a case against the suspect.
Further, the Cronico family has appealed for assistance in funeral expenses.
