Retaining wall pins boy to death

CEBU, Philippines - A 12-year-old boy was killed after a retaining wall of an ongoing drainage system project near a university in Opao, Mandaue City collapsed past 7 p.m. last Thursday.

Renan Diamante, a resident of sitio Waling-waling in barangay Opao, suffered severe body and head injuries when the retaining wall hit him and pinned him down.

Diamante was with several other kids playing near the project site of the Art Builders Construction.

Diamante reportedly accidentally stepped onto a 12-inch bamboo used by the construction workers to temporarily hold the retaining wall in place.

“Pagkatunob niyas guod (mature bamboo), nahulpa dayon ang drainage, nya naapil intawon ang bata. Nadat-ogan siya sa pagkatumba sa kadtong retaining wall,” said Ruben Lumbab, a tanod of neighboring barangay Looc, and an uncle of the victim.

Residents near the said construction site rushed the boy to the Mandaue City District Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival there because of severe injuries to the head.

Immediate relatives of Diamante cried foul after finding out that no precautionary measures, such as an early warning signage, were initiated by Art Builders.

Lumbab said they are contemplating on filing damages against the construction company for its alleged negligence in coming up with appropriate precautionary measures.

He said they will also seek help from Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes following information that the drainage system construction is a government-initiated project. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)