For not renewing the contract, City Hall engineer hits ex-boss with a pipe

CEBU, Philippines - An engineer of the Cebu City Hall was seriously injured after he was mauled by an angry former employee last Monday afternoon in Barangay Sto. Niño.

The victim, Emiliano “King” Cruz, 57, a mechanical engineer of City Hall’s Building Maintenance Services (BMS), landed at the Intensive Care Unit of Chong Hua Hospital after he was hit with a pipe by the suspect, Wilson Kilat, Sr., 55, on his head.

Kilat, worked as mechanical engineer for BMS, was allegedly mad at Cruz for not renewing his employment contract, said PO1 Reoful Adalim of the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office.

This was confirmed by BMS assistant head, Danilo Caracena, who said that Kilat’s anger prompted him to hit Cruz with a thick pipe tube learning that his name was not included in the renewal of appointments.

“Wa man gi-renew ang contract, aw puslan man na wa nakoy trabaho, di amungay na lang. Tabla na mi, may pa wa ko wa pud siya,” Kilat said in a radio interview.

According to Caracena, Kilat’s contract expired on August and was expecting his appointment will be renewed this month considering that he has been in service with the city government since 1989.

“Maglagot lang ko niya kay siya magbuot-buot nga di ko i-renew. So mao ako siyang gi-confront pero gisinghagan man ko. Kung wa pa unta siya nisingka nako wa unta to kabunali ug ngano wa gyod ko gi-renew nga wa man koy sala. Murag nakaminus nato kay pobre ko,” Kilat further said.

Cruz was heading for home in Barangay Sambag 1 when he was confronted by Kilat who was harboring a grudge against him near the Senior Citizen’s Office along M.C. Briones St.

Cruz fell to the ground after Kilat struck his head with a pipe and was immediately brought to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama visited immediately at Chong Hua Hospital after the incident last Monday night.

Rama said he found Cruz having regained his consciousness, was able to talk and move. Cruz friends and officemates also visited him at the hospital.

“We will not allow ang ing-anang nga utok, ngano mamunal man intawon siya?” Rama said.

Rama said he will direct CCPO chief, Sr. Supt. Noli Romana, to widen the visibility of the city police especially near Cebu City Hall to avoid incidents.

“Kung naa pa unta police dapit sa Senior Citizens Park di to mahitabo, dali ra usab unta to maundang,” Rama said.

PO1 Christopher Mariot of the Cebu City Public Safety Company who happened to pass by the area has witnessed the incident and eventually arrested Kilat and detained at the Waterfront Police Station.

Charges are now being prepared against the suspect. —(FREEMAN)