Meralco Not to File Charges vs Mentally Unstable Individual Who Climbed Electrical Pole
Meralco stated that they would not file charges against the man who climbed an electrical pole in Marikina City.
On Tuesday (November 21, 2023), Meralco, the electric company, announced that they would not be filing charges against the individual. The act affected over 4,000 Meralco customers who experienced a temporary power outage during the incident.
The man, whose actions caused a temporary disruption in the power supply, damaged some components of the electric pole, including pole steps and insulators.
Joe Zaldarriaga, the vice president and head of corporate communications at Meralco, mentioned that they have repaired the damages, and the power has been restored. However, the extent of the damage and the associated costs are yet to be determined.
Meralco has decided not to pursue legal action against the man, despite the inconvenience he caused. Zaldarriaga emphasized the importance of the man’s safety, stating that no amount of money can replace a person’s life.
On Wednesday (November 22, 2023), the man was taken to a mental facility in Mandaluyong City for a mental assessment. Marikina City Police Station Head, PCol. Earl Castillo, explained that based on the psychiatric diagnosis at Amang Rodriguez Medical Center, the man requires mental health care due to mental issues.
According to the man’s sibling, he faced personal challenges, including the loss of a child and abandonment by his partner, which led to his troubled state. Authorities are currently awaiting the results of the mental assessment before deciding on any potential charges.
PCol. Castillo clarified that if the individual is mentally unstable, he may be exempted from criminal liability. The outcome of the mental assessment will be important in determining the next steps. The results are expected to be released after two weeks.
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“Kung mentally deranged siya, he is exempted from criminal liability so hinihintay namin ‘yung pinaka-evaluations. ‘Yung result ng kanilang mental assessment will be released after two weeks,” Castillo said.
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