4 men die in hole

CEBU, Philippines - Four people died inside a deep well after being electrocuted yesterday morning in Sitio Pasil, Barangay Maslog, Danao City.

Police Officer 3 Marlon Remullo identified the fatalities as Diomel Mayol, 19; Ernesto Ogabao, 49; Amick Bunconseho, of legal age; and Jess Christian Miguel, 21.

Rescuers were able retrieve bodies of the four men yesterday night. The four victims were neighbors.

Investigator says only Amick Bunconseho was in the 15-foot-deep hole at first because he was reportedly digging a well but Ogabao and Miguel rushed to help him when Bunconseho was electrocuted when water seeped into the hole and submerged the pump he was using.

Mayol reportedly never meant to go down but he slipped into the hole.

Remullo said that Mayol was retrieved first at 5:42 p.m. followed by Ogabao at 6:09 p.m. Bunconseho was retrieved after several attempts at 7:40 p.m. and Miguel was finally retrieved at 7:57 p.m.

The Special Assistance on Fire and Rescue Inc. Danao chapter, the local government unit and the police helped in the search and retrieval operation.

“Sa initial investigation purely accident. Nagbuhat sila’g tabay naa daplin sa national road sa pagatpatan. Nangahulog sila sa lungag, si Amick naa sa ilawom maoy unang naaksidente ni-rescue silang tulo, nadisgrasya sila,” Remullo said.

“Kalit kaayo ang tubo sa tubig sa paghitabo padulong taob. Accident ang nahitabo, naa gyu’y wiring ngadto, naggamit sila’g water pump,” he added.

Remullo said that the incident happened around 11:05 a.m. yesterday but they were only notified of it past noon.

Remullo said that as of press time yesterday night they could not verify if the hole was to be used for a mine shaft or a deep well. He said that they will check if the owner of the hole is liable for the deaths. If it is established that there was negligence, the owner of the well or the person is in-charge of the digging will face multiple homicide charges.

The bodies of the victims were brought to Horizon Funeral Homes in Barangay Poblacion, Danao City.

The driver’s side of an ambulance used in the search and retrieval operation was damaged after it was reportedly hit with a hard object by one of the victim’s family members due to frustration said Ramonette Mahinay, Danao City Public Information Officer.

After Mayol was retrieved, he was placed in the funeral parlor’s service vehicle but 15 of his relatives took his body and placed it inside the ambulance insisting he could still be saved.

One of the relatives allegedly hit the ambulance and the driver was persuaded to bring Mayol’s body to the hospital. He was still declared dead on arrival.

The incident will still be investigated. —/BRP (FREEMAN)