Worker crushed by steel bars

CEBU, Philippines - A construction worker died after he was crushed by steel bars when scaffolding gave way at a construction site along Sudlon St., Barangay Pari-an, Cebu City, last Monday evening.

The victim was identified as Rico Lee, 48, a resident of Tanibag, Pinamungajan town, Cebu.

His co-worker Maximo Binigay said they were working overtime when scaffolding supporting steel bars each seven meters long and 25mm thick gave way. The victim was directly under the scaffolding when it collapsed.

He was already dead when the police and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation arrived; initial investigation showed he suffered massive injuries to the chest and ribs. Binigay was also hurt in the foot.

According to Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section investigator PO1 Michael Singson, the victim and with Binigay were not wearing any safety gear during the incident, not even a hard hat.

“Kuwang gyud sila og safety gear, permanente baya gyud ‘nang safety, naa lang gyud sila’y pabaya,” said Singson.

Lee has worked in the construction company for a month but has been in the industry for around 30 years, his family said. They have no plans to sue the construction company which has been invited for questioning by the police.

The victim’s body was brought to the Sure Life funeral homes for autopsy.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man was killed after he was hit by a speeding motorcycle on the national highway in Barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla town.

Ardel Obordo, 26, a resident of the said place and employee of Ngosiok Marketing, was walking along the road heading home from work when he was hit by a motorcycle and injured in different parts of the body.

He was taken to the Minglanilla District Hospital but was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. He was declared dead by the attending physician early morning last Monday.

Motorcycle driver Jeffrey Ubenario, 23, of Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, was detained at the Minglanilla police stockade but later released yesterday at 2:30 p.m. after his prescribed period ended.

Obordo’s family has also amicably settled the matter with the motorcycle driver.

Prior to the incident, Ubenario was heading south on his Yamaha Crypton motorcycle with license plate number OW-3057 when he hit the victim around 5:30 a.m. — Ria Mae Y. Booc with Christina Ybaòez and Lovella Flores, CNU Mass Comm interns/BRP

Alleged drug pusher falls

An alleged notorious drug pusher was arrested after he reportedly sold a pack of shabu to a policeman during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Ibabao, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, last Monday night.

Police identified the drug suspect as Gilbert Banate, alias “Bobong”, 42, a Level 2 drug pusher who can sell at least 25 grams of shabu every week.

Senior Insp. Keith Allen Andaya, deputy chief for administration of the City Intelligence Branch, said Banate’s area of distribution includes the whole of Barangay Mambaling.

Andaya said Banate’s arrest stemmed from a report from a concerned citizen who personally visited their office to tell them about Banate’s illegal activities in their barangay.

Led by Andaya, CIB personnel conducted surveillance and proceeded to sitio Ibabao to carry out the buy-bust operation.

After the suspect handed over the shabu and received the marked money from the police decoy, he was handcuffed and arrested.

Banate did not resist arrest. Police found three more packs of shabu after they searched him.

Andaya said they are checking who supplies Banate with drugs and how big his group is.

“Sa nakuha natong information, kusog-kusog siya diha unya noted sad ni siya ug nailhan siya sa maong lugar as Bobong,” the CIB official said.

The suspect declined to comment on his arrest. He is now detained at the Cebu City Police Office detention cell and will face charges for selling and possession of illegal drugs. —(FREEMAN)