A man pinned to the ground by a solar panel that fell from a lamp post was found dead in Hacienda San Ramon, Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Murcia in Negros Occidental on Sunday, June 4, the police said.
The man was identified by his parents as John Paul Gayle, 21, of Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City.
Boy Gravino, Sta. Cruz barangay captain, said that there has been a series of stealing of solar-powered lamps in his barangay.
He said that the victim was allegedly one of the identified individuals tagged to a group that might have stolen the solar panels.
Gravino said that out of 25 solar-powered lamps, 14 have already been stolen by unidentified individuals resulting in a darker pathway for the residents going home late at night.
“Some of the residents who walk late at night going to Brgy. Sta. Cruz have already complained about the missing solar-powered lamps and some even saw the individuals allegedly stealing them,” he said.
He said that the solar lights are a project of the Negros Occidental provincial government and the municipal government of Murcia.*