Capitol willing to extend assistance to the family of dead CICC worker

The Cebu Provincial Capitol is willing to extend assistance to the family of the construction worker, who died last October 11 at the construction site of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City.

"The Capitol will help as we condole with the family in this unfortunate incident. I assume this responsibility, we're trying very hard and this is really beyond the normal work for a normal project," Gov. Gwen Garcia said.

Atty. Pablo John Garcia, capitol legal consultant and the brother of the governor, said they are willing to assist the family of Rubencio Adlawan, a resident of Tuyan, Naga, Cebu.

This morning, the immediate relatives of Adlawan are set to meet with Gov. Garcia at the provincial capitol.

"Atong tan-awon kun unsay matabang nato financially" Pablo John said.

He however pointed out that WT Construction should also help assist the relatives of the victim "since they are the employer" of Rubencio.

The 33-year-old Adlawan died after he was electrocuted while working near the rooftop of the CICC. He started working for WT Construction last September 7.

It was only last Saturday when Hermogenes Adlawan, the elder brother of the victim, went to Station 1 of the Mandaue City Police Office to inform the authorities that they are filing a criminal complaint against WT Construction.

"Musang-at na lang gyud mi ug kaso batok sa iyang employer kay sukad sa nahitabo wala gyud tabang pinansyal ang ilang gihatag, sa kakabus namo ug sa iyang asawa lisod gyud kaayo ang kahimtang" Hermogenes told TV Patrol Cebu.

"Mangita gyud mi ug hustisya sa kamatayon sa akong igsoon," he added.

Next week, the relatives are also set to file a complaint against the management with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The complaint will be based on the ground that the workers have only been receiving P160 per day and additional P10 as night shift allowance.

SPO1 Ricardo Ragas, investigator of Station 1, yesterday denied that the accident, which happened at the CICC, was not reported to the police. He said, the night shift responded at 10:45 on October 11.

"Andam mi mo facilitate sa pamilya ug among ipa-abot sa ilang employer," Ragas said.

The incident happened last October 11 around 8:45 in the evening while Adlawan was assisting the welder at the rooftop of CICC.

Gov. Garcia said, they cannot keep track of the security and safety measures that the contractors of the CICC are employing.

"We have many contractors in CICC aside from WTC, we can't assure that they are all following what was required of them regarding safety measures," Garcia said.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office head Marivic Garces said she told her staff based in the town of Naga to visit Adlawan's family, she also told his widow Nelita to come to her office and personally get a voucher for release of financial assistance worth P5,000. - Ramil V. Ayuman and Cristina C. Birondo