1 dead, 3 hurt as wall collapses in Pasay

MANILA, Philippines – One worker died and three others were injured when a concrete wall collapsed on them as they were working at a construction site in Pasay City.

Senior Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, Pasay Police chief, identified the fatality as Rafael Jardin, 51, a stay-in worker at the Parka building construction site along Park Avenue Extension. Of the injured workers, only Reynaldo Sisonat was identified.

An initial police report stated that at about 7:20 a.m., the wall collapsed as the workers were busy digging rubble in the area. The wall buried Jardin while his co-workers were hit by falling debris. The construction project is reportedly spearheaded by Ali Builders Inc., according to police.

Petrasanta said Marcial Panan, a security guard at a nearby building, was the one who called up the police and reported the incident. A team led by Police Officer 3 Generoso Geraldino proceeded to the site and investigated the incident.

Amir Hassan, officer-in-charge of village watchmen at Barangay 79, said he heard a loud crash and saw the wall fall on the four workers. He said vibrations from a jackhammer used at the construction site could have caused the collapse. – Rhodina Villanueva