Worker zapped dead in CICC construction site accident

With 20 days more to go to finish the Cebu International Convention Center on the announced deadline of October 30, an accident happened at the construction site where a 33-year-old worker fell from the rooftop and was electrocuted.

The victim was Rubencio Adlawan, a native of barangay Tuyan in Naga town, who started working at the CICC in Mandaue City last September 7.

Reports have it that Adlawan was assisting a welder at the building's rooftop at around 8:45 p.m. last October 11 when he lost balance from his scaffold and grabbed at exposed wiring, resulting in his electrocution.

"Na out-balance na siya sa iyang damba nga iyang gipatungan. Pagka-tumba ang iyang nahikapan nga koryente dunay panit hinongdan nga nakoryentihan siya," said Hermogenes Adlawan, elder brother of the victim.

However, there were unconfirmed reports that the management of WT Construction allegedly did not bother to report the matter to the Mandaue City Police Office, which is just adjacent to the construction site.

The fatal accident was the first since the construction of the CICC for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit began months ago, and there were allegations from the relatives of the victim that the construction firm tried to cover up the real cause of death.

Hermogenes said he will report the matter to the Mandaue Police this Monday and prepare for the possible filing of a criminal complaint against WT Construction.

Nelita Adlawan, wife of the victim, was also disappointed at the firm, which allegedly deceived the family by saying that Rubencio died from a hypertension attack.

"Ang ilang gyud gi-relay namo gikan ni Ging-ging nga namatay ang akong bana kay giataki sa high blood. Mao nga nagduda mi, among gipa-autopsy sa PNP Crime lab kay daghang kaayo ug paso sa kamot ug sa iyang likod," Nelita said. This certain Ging-ging was allegedly the secretary of WT Construction.

Nelita also accused the firm's management of not giving financial aid to them.

"Bisan gamay na lang unta nga tabang namo wala gyud silay gihatag," she told TV Patrol-Cebu while in tears.

"Bisan gamay wa gyud sila gihatag. Mao moduol mi kang Governor Garcia kay iya man ni project ug mangayo mi ug tabang," Hermogenes added.

Rubencio worked with only a P160 daily wage plus P10 nightly allowance. He left behind a jobless wife, and four children, aged nine, eight, three years old and 11 months.

A security guard on duty at the CICC told The Freeman yesterday that a certain Ms. Suico advised them not to allow media men to enter the site. - Ramil V. Ayuman