Coal miner dies in 300-meter fall

CEBU, Philippines - A coal miner died after he fell down a 300-meter deep mine shaft while conducting inspection at the Alta Tierra Mining and Development Corporation operated by Provincial Board Member Wilfredo Caminero in Barangay Balaas, Argao last Monday evening.

Eutiquio Sandoval, 37, resident of Barangay Santikon, Badian, was about to ride a mine cart when he slipped and fell into the tunnel.

The incident was not immediately known by authorities since the mining company and the worker’s family did not bother to report it to the police.

Argao police chief Alejandro Batobalonos said they only knew about the incident yesterday.

Batobalonos said they have admonished the management of the mining company as well as the relatives of the victim for not reporting the incident.

Felimon Sandoval, 50, victim’s elder brother, said they did not report the incident to the police because it was an accident and they believe nobody was responsible for it.

Batobalonos said they have already closed their investigation after they have established that there was no foul play in the incident.

As to the possible administrative liability of the mining company, Batobalonos said they are leaving the matter for the Department of Energy to look into.

But the DOE investigating team found no violations committed by the mining operator. The DOE has however advised the operator to conduct a safety re-orientation among its more than 200 miners to avoid a similar accident in the future.

Engr. Gerald Cabizares, DOE-7 senior science specialist, said that their investigation shows that the management committed no negligence in ensuring the safety of Sandoval.

“Nag-ayo ni sila sa riles sa bagon sulod sa minahan, (they were doing a repair of the railway of the mine cart inside the tunnel),” Cabizares said.

Cabizares said that based on his investigation, Sandoval and two others were equipped with personal protective equipment including a skull guard or head gear and harness when the incident happened.

“But in the case of Sandoval, he already removed his harness kay musaka siya sa taas aron iyang i-check kung okay na ba ang riles nga ilang giayo. Then na-slide ni siya, he lost balance mao to natagak,” Cabizares said.

Sandoval died on the spot at around 7 p.m. on Monday. Two hours after the incident, the mining firm reported the incident to the DOE-7.

“We imposed no suspension on the operation of the mining firm since we have not found any violations on its safety requirements,” Cabizares said.

It was however learned that the mining operation was suspended yesterday but the DOE official said it might be at the owner’s discretion.

The mining firm is one of the coal suppliers of Salcon-Kepco power plant in Naga City and Toledo Power Plant.

Financial support

Sandoval’s wife Clara in an interview over DYLA said she is worried how to raise the seven children left by her husband.

“Nagproblema gyud ko unsaon nako pagbuhi akong mga anak siya (Eutiquio) ra gyud among gisaligan (I am worried how to raise my children because we only relied on my husband),” she said. 

Caminero has already given P5,000 financial support to the family.— (FREEMAN)