MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – They went down a tunnel looking for gold hoping for a better life, but it ended their lives.
Police reports reaching Camp General Alejo Santos in this city said Abner de la Peña, 25; Nelson de la Peña, 21; Jonathan Lopez; 19 and Christopher Baisan, 38, and certain Boyet, all of Barangay Tumana in Baliuag town died of suffocation after going down a 25-meter deep tunnel at Sitio Balaong, Barangay Talbak in the mountain town of Doña Remedios Trinidad on Thursday.
Their companions identified as Jonel Pedro, Andy Tan and Mario Videña 56, all residents of Barangay Talbak managed to climb out of the tunnel and survive.
Chief Inspector Lorenzo Paynor, chief of police of Doña Remedios Trinidad town said the victims died of suffocation due to the gasoline-fueled water pump they brought inside a tunnel.
Paynor said miners reached the tunnel around 11:30 a.m. Thursday armed with information gathered from their friends that there is gold deposit inside the said tunnel.
The victims went down and started pumping out water, but minutes later, they suffered shortness of breath. Pedro, Tan and Videña immediately climbed up the tunnel and survived but the others were left behind.
Village officials and residents were able to pull out the other victims later and rushed them to a hospital in the nearby San Ildefonso town but it was too late.
Paynor said they are now gathering information to identify the person who gave the victims information about the alleged gold deposit in the tunnel.
Vice Mayor Liberato Sembrano of Doña Remedios Trinidad meanwhile, warned other possible miners for similar activities. –Dino Balabo, Philippine Star
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
