Another miner dies in Danao

CEBU, Philippines – Another miner died after he was buried alive while working in the coal mine in the mountainous part of Danao City last Monday evening.

Celso Damiles Perez, 31, of Sitio Portland, Barangay Cahumayan died before reaching the hospital after he was buried when part of the soil above where he was working collapsed and fell on him.

The fatality worked for SKI Energy Resources Inc. (SERI), a mining corporation, which operates under coal operating contracts granted by the Department of Energy.

Police said it was Melchor, 24, brother of the victim, who informed their office of the incident through telephone call.

Investigation conducted by the police revealed that at around 10 p.m., Perez was working in the mine when suddenly part of the ground above his head suddenly collapsed.

Other workers tried to rescue Perez until policemen arrived and retrieved his body from the pit. Perez was rushed to Danao District Hospital but he did not reach the hospital alive.

The FREEMAN tried to contact Department of Energy regional director Antonio Labios through his phone but several calls went unanswered.

Gerald Cabizares, senior science physicist specialist of DOE-7, who handles coal mining safety, refused to give further details about the incident but assured that their office has already started its investigation into the matter.

Barely a month ago, DOE-7 has ordered for the suspension of operation of Adelina Hermita Coal Mine in Barangay Lawaan, Danao City after three of its workers also died when they accidentally fell into the mine pit.

The fatalities Ramonito Tagalog, 42; Michael Valdez, 46, and Junrey Bayo, 28, were reportedly going down the hole hitching a ride with a drum when the cable that held the drum suddenly snapped.

The DOE-7 said that Adelina Hermita Coal Mine is just a small-scale mining company but despite that, the agency still went on with the investigation to determine the lapses and liability of the company on the incident.

Meanwhile, habal-habal driver was electrocuted when he suddenly touched a live wire while he was trying to cut the leaves of a coconut tree in Catmon town.

Efipanio Colonia Jr., 29, died after he hit a nipa hut before falling to the ground.

According to the police, the victim climbed the coconut tree, which is located near his house, to cut its leaves that are already touching the electric wire.

At that time, it was allegedly brownout so the victim was confident that he would not get electrocuted even if he touches the Cebu Electric Cooperative II’s main line.

However, when Colonia climbed the coconut, he had no idea that the power had already returned.

Colonia was immediately brought to Juan Dosdado Memorial Hospital in Sogod but died after a minute.

Police said that they do not know why Colonia decided to cut the said leaves himself when it is the duty of the CEBECO personnel to cut those leaves that touch their electric wires. — THE FREEMAN