American, 3 others die in Pasay concert

MANILA, Philippines – Four persons, including an American man, died during a concert at the parking area of a mall in Pasay City on Saturday night.

Police identified the fatalities as Eric Anthony Miller, a US citizen; Ariel Leal, 22, of Baguio City; Lance Garcia, 37, of Valle Verde in Pasig City, and 18-year-old Bianca Fontejon.

Miller and Fontejon were declared dead on arrival at the Manila Doctors Hospital. Leal and Garcia were rushed to the San Juan de Dios Hospital but to no avail, investigator PO3 Albert Barangas Jr. said.

Ken Migawa, of Antipolo, Rizal, remains in critical condition at the San Juan de Dios Hospital.

Police said the fatalities were among the 14,000 people who attended a show at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) open grounds.

Reports said the victims were found unconscious in separate areas after the concert ended before dawn yesterday.

“The concert goers initially thought that they were just sleeping,” a police official said.

Police will conduct an autopsy on the victims to determine the cause of death.

Reports said the concert started at around 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The organizers of the concert, Close Up Philippines, coordinated directly with the Southern Police District.

Police have informed the US embassy of Miller’s death.

Probers said the victims could have died of heat stroke or were suffocated during the concert.

“We would like to express our sympathies to the victims. The incident that happened at the MOA open concert grounds was unfortunate,” Annie Garcia, president of SM Supermalls, said in a statement sent to The STAR.

“We are assisting the event organizers, Close Up, its agencies and the police in the investigation,” Garcia said.

In Manila, a 56-year-old biker competing in a race collapsed and died along Roxas Boulevard yesterday.

Virgilio Pagulayan, of Malibay, Pasay City, reportedly suffered a heart attack at around 11 a.m., according to Senior Police Officer 2 Jonathan Bautista of the Manila Police District homicide unit. – With Rey Galupo