6 dead as wallcollapses in Tagaytay

MANILA, Philippines — Six construction workers died and two were injured after a wall next to their barracks collapsed during heavy rains in Tagaytay City on Monday.

City administrator Gregorio Monreal said five of the victims were retrieved yesterday while one, who was among those rescued on Monday, was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital.

“Unfortunately, isang na-rescue natin kahapon ay namatay din. Ngayon ang na-retrieve natin lima,” he told reporters in an interview.

Tagaytay police chief Lt. Col. Norman Ranon declined to identify the victims during an interview over dzBB yesterday as the families of the victims have yet to be informed.

The two survivors are Marco Paulo Abarientos, an engineer, and construction worker Nino Villasquez.

A report from the Cavite police said the incident occurred at the construction site in Barangay Kaybagal Central at around 6:20 p.m.

Probers said the victims were resting at their barracks when a concrete wall of Hortaleza Farm collapsed.

Abarientos, in an interview over dzBB, said the wall, which he estimated to be around 30 feet, was built when they started construction on a house on May 16.

“Isang kasama nasa labas sa gilid ng pader sumigaw na babagsak kaya tumakbo kaming tatlo,” he said.

Monreal said they have ordered an investigation to determine if the owner of the farm is liable for the incident.

Investigators learned that additional construction works were done on the wall without their knowledge.

“Base sa initial assessment, meron na dating pader, dinagdagan nila ‘yung structure,” he said.