VALENCIA CITY, BUKIDNON — A man who was reportedly using electricity to catch fish was found dead in a creek in Purok 3, Barangay Vintar, Valencia City, Bukidnon, on the morning of Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The victim was later identified as Rey Reynaldo Ochvillo Ringcodo, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay San Isidro.
Initial information circulating among residents and online community posts indicated that Ringcodo had allegedly been fishing using an improvised electrical setup in the creek when he was reportedly electrocuted by the device he was using.
He was reportedly wearing a green shirt when he was found in the water.
Residents initially appealed through social media for help in identifying the man after his lifeless body was discovered in the creek. The victim was reportedly difficult to identify at first because he was found partially submerged in the water and had no immediately available identification on him.
Local authorities and responders were subsequently alerted and proceeded to the area to recover the body and establish the victim’s identity.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. Authorities are expected to determine how the electrical equipment was being used, what caused the electrocution, and the precise sequence of events that led to the victim’s death.
While initial accounts point to electrocution as the suspected cause, the final cause and manner of death should be based on the findings of the appropriate authorities and, if conducted, a medical examination.
The incident once again highlights the potentially fatal dangers associated with using electricity in bodies of water.
Electricity can travel through water and can cause a person to lose muscle control, making it extremely difficult or impossible for a victim to escape the electrical current. In such situations, even a seemingly simple fishing activity can quickly become a life-threatening emergency.
Strong reminder: Never use electricity to catch fish
The death of Ringcodo serves as a serious reminder that using electricity to catch fish is extremely dangerous and can be fatal—not only to the person handling the equipment but also to other people and animals in or near the water.
The public is strongly urged not to attempt electrical fishing under any circumstances. Improvised electrical devices, exposed wires, batteries, generators, or other power sources should never be brought into creeks, rivers, ponds, or other bodies of water for fishing.
What may appear to be an easy way to catch fish can turn into a tragedy within seconds.
Anyone who encounters electrical fishing activities is urged to keep a safe distance and report the practice to the proper authorities rather than attempting to intervene directly.