Representatives from San Miguel Corp. and EEI Corp. said negligence on the part of the crane operator led to the collapse of a Skyway extension project girder that killed one and injured eight others on Nov. 21 at East Service Road in Bgy. Cupang, Muntinlupa.
(Muntinlupa PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi convened a meeting Monday morning (Nov, 23) with SMC and EEI representatives to shed light on the Skyway accident. Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac and members of the City Council including Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro were also present.
Corro said initial investigation by SMC and EEI pointed to negligence of the crane operator of Mayon Machineries, which was hired by EEI as subcontractor for the use of the crawler crane.
The Muntinlupa Police identified the crane operator as Enrico Gregorio, 41, of Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite. Inquest proceedings have been completed by the Muntinlupa prosecutor’s office on Gregorio who is facing a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple injuries and damage to property.
Gregorio is under custody of the Muntinlupa Police.
At about 8:50 a.m. Saturday, Gregorio was moving the crane when its boom hit the girder that was already positioned between two posts of the Skyway extension project. This caused the girder to fall and hit vehicles below.
According to Biazon, the EEI representative said the crane “operator made a maneuver which was not part of standard movement when making the maneuver.”
The Skyway extension project was being constructed in time for its completion next month. Because of the accident, the completion was pushed to February next year, SMC said.
Corro said SMC and EEI will submit a thorough investigation report of the incident in two days to the Muntinlupa City government.
The two firms were also ordered by the city government to submit a written report on the safety protocols to be implemented to avoid repetition of the accident.
According to the Muntinlupa Police and city government, Edison Paquibot, 43, of Lessandra Heights, Molino 4, Bacoor, Cavite, who was driving a motorcycle, was killed in the Skyway accident.
Those injured were Henry Delgado, 54 and John Paul Gonzalez, 26, both of Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna; Rogelio Cueno, 60, of M.H. del Pilar Extension, Bagong Silangan, Quezon City; and Aner Regachuelo, of Isla Homes, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.
Also injured were Angelito Manalo, 30, of San Miguel, Pasig City; Juanito Dumalig Jr. of Fabian Compound, Alabang, Muntinlupa; Reden Resus of Olaya St., Purok 7, Alabang, Muntinlupa City; and Edwin Sagun of San Roque, San Pedro, Laguna.
Gonzalez and Manalo are confined at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center for head injuries.
Biazon said project representatives “admitted that they were keeping to the deadline to finish and open the Skyway. But as of now there’s no indication of shortcuts.”
“I did ask EEI to also look into and report about the work schedule of the crane operator, to check on the possibility that he might not have been in a good condition to operate the
machinery. They committed to make that part of the investigation,” Biazon told Manila Bulletin.
During the meeting, SMC assured that it will assist the victims of the accident, he added.