San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and EEI Corp. will process in two weeks the claims of the victims of the fatal Skyway extension project on November 21 that killed one and injured eight others. 

A meeting was held today, November 26, between Skyway, EEI Corp., eight victims, and Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro (who represented the Muntinlupa City government). The meeting lasted about an hour and documents have been submitted to SMC and EEI.

During an earlier meeting with SMC and EEI on November 23, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi told the two firms that “you must shape up and ensure stricter observance of occupational safety and safe operating procedures especially in high risk areas with heavy traffic. This should be the last incident to happen in your project in Muntinlupa.” 

During its regular session on November 23, the Muntinlupa City Council adopted a resolution asking SMC and EEI to submit the investigation report in two days to the Muntinlupa City government. It also asked the two firms to lay out the safety protocols that will be implemented to prevent similar accidents from happening during the construction of the Skyway extension project, which has been extended to February next year because of the accident. 

As to the Muntinlupa City Council’s next move, Corro told Manila Bulletin that councilors will go over the report on the accident submitted by SMC and EEI and “see how this should not happen again in terms of safety protocols to be implemented.”

“SMC and EEI have started processing the individual claims of those injured/vehicles were damaged. The target is to complete payments in two weeks or earlier depending on individual submissions,” he said. 

Based on their investigation, the Muntinlupa Police said Enrico Gregorio, 41, of Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite, was moving the crawler crane when it tilted and its boom hit a girder that was already placed between two Skyway extension project posts. The girder fell and hit seven vehicles below and the nine occupants. 

Gregorio is an employee of Mayon Machinery, which was subcontracted by EEI for the use of the crane. He is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple injuries, and damage to property. 

The accident killed Edison Paquibot, 43, of Lessandra Heights, Molino 4, Bacoor, Cavite, who was driving a Yamaha Mio Soul motorcycle. He was declared dead on arrival at the Alabang Medical Clinic in Muntinlupa. 

An autopsy showed that Paquibot's death was caused by blunt traumatic injuries to the head. His interment will be held at 4:30 p.m. today (November 26) at Santuario Divino in Bacoor, Cavite. 

The police identified the injured as Henry Delgado, 54, of Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna; John Paul Gonzalez, 26, of Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna; Rogelio Cueno, 60, of M.H. del Pilar Extension, Bagong Silangan, Quezon City; Aner Regachuelo of Isla Homes, Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City; 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. 

Vehicles that were damaged were one Mitsubishi Adventure, one Toyota Vios, one Hyundai H100, and four motorcycles.