Chapel collapsed, damages coffin

CEBU, Philippines - A wake in Barangay Pagsabungan in Mandaue City was interrupted yesterday after the chapel that served as the venue collapsed causing damage on the coffin and injuries to a 25-year-old man.

A team from the Accident Control Emergency Rescue Team (ACERT) cleared the debris and pulled out the coffin of Corazon Cordero.

However, the coffin’s glass was already broken and its lower portion was also damaged.

Injured was Remegio Magallanes, of Tayud , Liloan and boyfriend of Cordero’s granddaughter, Jeremi Cordero.

Magallanes was rushed to the Mandaue City hospital.

Jeremi was lucky as she left the chapel shortly before it collapsed to get food.

Pagsabungan Barangay Captain Andres Suson said the chapel was made of light materials and has been there since 2007.

Suson added the two earthquakes that hit Cebu and the heavy rains yesterday may have caused the collapse.

Cordero’s wake at the chapel started last Friday and her interment will be on Sunday.

Because of the incident and the recent fire that hit Barangay Umapad Monday evening, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes decided to postpone his State of the City Adress to September 26 instead of holding it at 4pm today at the Mandaue City Sports Complex. — (FREEMAN)