Couple electrocuted

CEBU, Philippines - An elderly couple getting ready to attend a wedding were killed after they were electrocuted early morning Thursday in their house in Barangay Cangyawan, Madridejos town.

Primitiva Santillan, 60, was first electrocuted after she hung her laundry on tie wire later found to have touched the live wire in their piggery.

Primitiva's husband, Bonifacio, 64, tried to save her but was also electrocuted when he touched the wire. Both were rushed by their grandchildren to the Madridejos District Hospital but they did not make it there alive.

Madridejos police chief Inspector Roberto Hugo said the tie wire made contact with the live wire because of a dilapidated rain gutter.

"Kanang wire grounded na kay duna man nay pahak unya niigo sad sa alambre unya basa ang sinina nga nilabhan maong nakuryentihan kay tungod pud sa pahak dunay sandayong sa ilang balay," Hugo said in a phone interview.

Upon seeing Primitiva in trouble, Bonifacio immediately rushed to her but also touched the wire.

"Wala niya biraha iyang asawa ang hayhayan maoy iyang gikuptan unya mao may grounded," Hugo said.

It was the grandchildren of the couple who cut the power by disconnecting the plug of an extension wire.

The couple woke up early to prepare for the wedding of their nephew. Hugo added that the couple normally switched off the extension wire in the morning but they failed to do so at that time since it was still a bit dark outside.

The bodies of the couple were taken for autopsy at a funeral home. —/BRP (FREEMAN)