Raps poised vs Makati building owners, contractors

MANILA, Philippines - Possible criminal charges of negligence resulting in multiple homicide loom against the owners and contractors of a condominium project in Makati City where 10 workers fell to their deaths Thursday.

Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio said they would initiate the filing of criminal charges against Eton Properties, CE Construction, Arlo Aluminum Corp. and Arlo’s subcontractor EM Piñon, notwithstanding the reluctance of families of the victims to file charges.

“The possible charges are negligence resulting in multiple homicide against the main contractor, the subcontractors and the engineers, particularly the safety engineers,” Bonifacio said.

“It does not matter whether the workers killed during the accident belonged to a subcontractor,” he added.

Bonifacio said initial investigation showed the makeshift elevator had fallen because of overloading.

He said the gondola lift started going down from the 32nd floor of the building with two to four workers on board.

“Then other workers hitched (a ride) when it passed by the 26th floor, causing an overload. The engineer (at the site) said he was conducting rounds. We will file a case even if the relatives of the victims will not initiate it. Our duty is on the criminal aspect of the accident,” Bonifacio said.

Makati City administrator Marjorie de Veyra also said the owners and contractors could be held liable for the accident.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, on the other hand, called for a review of the standards for safety in the work place, particularly at construction areas in order to prevent accidents.

Estrada said the incident in Makati merits a thorough review of the country’s occupational safety standards and the system of inspection of work areas.

He said the enforcement of existing rules should also be ensured in order to avoid accidents that result in death and damage to property.

“I am calling on the authorities, especially the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to conduct a complete investigation of the incident and determine the possible liabilities of the contractor and the owners of Eton in providing safety for their workforce,” Estrada said.

“But more than this particular investigation, we need a comprehensive review, re-study and improvement of the system itself on the implementation of safety measures in work places,” he added.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz yesterday said the owners and contractors of the condominium may also be liable for numerous labor standard violations.

Baldoz said they were investigating these possible violations and Eton and its contractors would be required to comply with standards and correct their violations or they cannot resume operations.

 “Until they comply with the labor standards, the construction would remain suspended so as not to put the workers at further risk,” she said.

Baldoz added the DOLE is also working with other concerned government agencies in undertaking comprehensive investigation into the accident.

“We have to coordinate with other agencies because the owner not only violated labor standards but may also have violated the Building Code,” she said.

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), on the other hand, pressed for stricter labor inspection to prevent work-related accidents.

PM chairman Renato Magtubo said DOLE inspectors were apparently sleeping on the job in enforcing labor and safety standards. – With Marvin Sy and Mayen Jaymalin