A dangerous incident on Christmas Day led to an unplanned power outage in parts of Davao City after a man climbed a live utility post. The individual, later identified as Piolo Porras Apor, admitted to police that he was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time.
Christmas Day Emergency and Rescue
The Bunawan Police Station received an alert from Central 911 at around 9 a.m. on December 25, 2025. The report concerned an unidentified man who had scaled a Davao Light post bearing the number 0808163 in Barangay Ilang. Police officers from Mobile Ilang, led by PLT Jojie Sayad, quickly responded to secure the area.
They coordinated with Central 911's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team and emergency crews from Davao Light. The rescue operation involved USAR personnel Fritz John Caminade and the suspect's sister, Pearly Porras Apor, who assisted in negotiations from a Davao Light boom truck. After several hours, authorities successfully convinced Piolo to climb down safely.
Drug Use and Mental Health Concerns Revealed
During the police investigation, Piolo Porras Apor confessed that he had used the illegal drug shabu, which caused him to experience hallucinations. He told authorities he was chasing a dog before he decided to climb the electric post.
Further details from his brother, Paolo Apor, revealed that Piolo had left their construction quarters in Purok 1, Mambago-B, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, on December 24. The brothers had a drinking session prior to his departure. Paolo also disclosed that Piolo had been dealing with ongoing mental health concerns.
Widespread Power Interruption and Legal Consequences
To ensure safety during the rescue, Davao Light and Power Company was forced to implement an emergency power interruption. The outage affected areas stretching from Purok 6, Buhisan, Tibungco to Km 18 National Highway, Tibungco via Daang Maharlika Highway, including portions of Panacan and Bunawan. The utility company issued an apology to affected customers for the inconvenience.
Following the incident, Piolo Apor was brought to the Bunawan Police Station. Authorities announced they are preparing a complaint for Violation of Alarms and Scandals to be filed before the City Prosecutor's Office in Davao City. Police emphasized that such reckless actions endanger both public safety and critical infrastructure.
