Landslide kills 5 Cagayan de Oro laborers

MANILA, Philippines – Five construction workers were buried alive after the land they were digging collapsed on them in a construction site in a Cagayan de Oro City subdivision yesterday, authorities said.

Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the fatalities as Philip Goyo, 19; Danny Loay, 18; Arman Cabasan, 22; Boning Abalo; and Eladio Tadle.

Senior Superintendent Benedicto Lopez, Cagayan de Oro City police chief, said Tadle died while undergoing treatment at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center.

Lopez said the incident took place at around 3:30 p.m. at the Taekwood Hills Subdivision in Upper Zone 3, Barangay Agusan.

Investigation showed that the five workers were employed by Design Setters Co. Inc., which is constructing a building at the subdivision.

Police said the workers were digging the foundation of the building when the landslide occurred.

Probers were determining who could be held liable for the incident, Lopez said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Edith Regalado and AP