4 injured in coal mine explosion

CEBU, Philippines - A coal mine explosion injured four miners last Saturday in Barangay Lawaan, Danao City.

Victims were rushed to Danao Provincial Hospital but were referred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further treatment.

Police identified the victims as Arnel Bacang, 28; Rolito Capote, 36; Joseph Manzo, 18; and Cereno Lugas, 56, all from Barangay Lawaan. 

The four were working inside a 50-meter deep coal mine when one of them hit a hard object with a pick mattock that caused a spark and triggered the explosion.

SPO1 Bryan Batiquin, homicide investigator, said the victims suffered injuries in the face and hands.

The small-scale coal mine is owned by Adelina Hermita, also of the same barangay.

Dina Diatingo, officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said Hermita’s operation could be illegal since CENRO has not granted an Environment Compliance Certificate for her business.

“I remember they went to the office this year but we did not give them a permit because the mine did not pass the inspection. Wala na pud nibalik sa opisina,” Diatingo said in a phone interview.

 Diatingo added that quarrying and mining businesses should pass necessary inspections before an ECC is granted. An ECC is also required to get a business permit at the Mayor’s Office of Danao City.

Danao City Mayor Boy Durano also said that if the nature of the business is mining and quarrying, these should have a permit granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“If it is illegal, the government cannot earn from it and all illegal have to be closed,” Durano told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Batiquin said they might take action against the coal mine owner in coordination with other concerned agencies.

Last June, a repairman of a coal mine died after he fell into a 45-meter deep pit in Barangay Balaas, Argao.

Leocadio Sandoval, 37, suffered severe head injuries during the fall when he accidentally slipped as he stepped to a coal transport equipment of the Alta Tierra and Development Corp. co-owned by Cebu Provincial Board Member Wilfredo Caminero. — /MBG (FREEMAN)