Falling pole incident: Families of kids won’t pursue raps

CEBU, Philippines - The families of the children who figured in an unfortunate incident of a utility post falling on them in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City last July 7, 2015 will no longer file charges against the linemen of the Visayas Electric Company.

PO1 Marlito Portuguez of the Waterfront Police Station said the parties in the case have agreed to settle the matter amicably provided VECO will shoulder the medical expenses for the 13-year-old girl who got injured and the burial expenses for the other 13-year-old boy who died.

VECO assured to shoulder the expenses.

“Di na sila moggukod. Wa na pud sila mobalik sukad sa case conference,” Portuguez said.

Portuguez said the case conference held at theWaterfront Police Station was attended by station chief, Inspector Wayne Magbanua, Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, the parents of the two children, and Maria Theresa Coloyan, who represented VECO and Rosch Enterprises.

The linemen, Jessie Aton Ngojo, 32, and Fernando Maluya Inot, 48, were arrested for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and physical injuries but were released subsequently after the case conference.

Ngojo and Inot work for Rosch Enterprises, which is VECO’s contractor.

It was in the evening of July 7 when the children were waiting for their food to be cooked at a barbecue stall along the road when the truck driven by the linemen snagged the utility wires that were dangling low.

Passersby had to untangle them from the truck before it could proceed. Several minutes after that, the post suddenly fell on the children who were seated near it.

Ralph Bureros of Sitio Zapanta, Tinago was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu City Medical Center while Jeserea Ambros of Barangay Tejero suffered burns on her left hand and contusions in her forehead.

Lahug incident

Meanwhile, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company will give financial aid to the families of the two women – one of whom died – who got hit by the company’s utility pole in Veterans Drive, Barangay Lahug last weekend.

While not disclosing the amount, Elmer Lintag, PLDT’s head of operations for Cebu, Bohol, Samar and Leyte, confirmed the assistance for Irene Bordon, 54, and Delia Bingala, 52, both from Sitio Maracas, Barangay Lahug.

Bordon succumbed to a head injury Monday night after two days of being comatose at the Cebu Velez General Hospital. Bingal who got injured in her hands is now in stable condition.

“Kinalulungkot kong mabalitaan ang nangyari. I was not expecting it,” Lintag said.

Bordon and Bingal have just parted ways at that time when the boom truck driven by Londres Fabiano Jr., 31, and an employee of Khitzu Development Corporation, passed by them and snagged the wire between two PLDT poles, pulling one to the ground and hitting the two women.

According to Bordon’s husband, Felizardo, the owner of the Khitzu Development Corporation, visited them in the hospital Monday morning and asked for forgiveness. The company also shouldered the expenses of the hospital, as well as Bordon’s wake.

“Tama lang na i-shoulder nila. That’s their moral obligation,” Lintag commented.

While he acknowledged PLDT also had fault in the incident, Lintag reiterated that Fabiano and the owner of the boom truck must be liable for what happened.

“PLDT, first and foremost, prioritizes public safety. We acknowledge it is our fault kaya lang hindi namin  kagustuhan yun. Nanahimik ang mga facilities namin. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi mangyayari ang aksidente,” he said.

Lintag also said that they have sent a demand letter to Khitzu Development Corporation for payment of damages to their facilities.

The FREEMAN called the management of Khitzu Development Corporation but the latter refused to comment.

As of yesterday, Felizardo said they have yet to decide whether or not to pursue charges against Fabiano and his company. Fabiano was detained at the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management headquarters after the accident but was released yesterday afternoon because no formal case was filed against him.

CITOM investigator SPO4 Ramon Budiongan said that even if Fabiano has been released, Bordon’s family is aware that they can still file a case against Fabiano and the company anytime. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/JMO (FREEMAN)