Police ready to help parents of kid who died while digging limestone in Tabuelan

This is the area where the three minors were reportedly digging and gathering crushed limestone on Saturday afternoon, February 12, 2022, in barangay Kanluhagon in Tabuelan town. | Photo courtesy of Tabuelan PS

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police are willing to help parents of a 10-year-old boy, who died after a rock fell on him while he was digging and gathering crushed limestone to sell in Barangay Kanluhagon, Tabuelan town in northwestern Cebu.

However, Police Staff Sergeant Jerome Millor of the Tabuelan Municipal Police Station, said that no relatives or parents appeared at their station yet to ask for their assistance.

“Wala pay nianhi nga ginikanan pero og muanhi to willing mi mo guide og unsay angay buhatunun or og naay [possible] liabilities,” Millor said.

(Their parents did not come here but we are willing to guide them on what to do if there are any possible liabilities over the incident.)

Millor said that this was the first time that this incident was reported to their station. 

With limited information that he had, Millor said that he had no knowledge as well if the victims used to do such activity in the area or if this was also the same livelihood that the parents of the three have.

Initial investigation showed that on Saturday afternoon, February 12, a 10-year-old boy died after he was hit by a rock which fell on him while he was digging and gathering crushed limestone to sell to buyers in Barangay Kanluhagon.

His companions at that time, a 12-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, who were injured during the incident, were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The two children were admitted to the hospital and were still recuperating from their injuries.

Millor said that they did not know if digging and gathering for crushed limestones to sell to buyers were the parents’ livelihood as well.

What they did know was that those three children were digging and gathering crushed limestones in the area to earn money to help buy food for their family.

“Ang pagpangubkob og anapog mao ang usa sa mga paagi niining mga bata-a nga makatabang sa ilang ginikanan aron makapalit og pangunsumo sa ilang pamilya,” said a statement of the Tabuelan Police Station.

(Digging and gathering limestones to sell to buyers is one way for these children to help their families to buy food.)

Tabuelan is a fourth class municipality, which is estimated to be around 100 kilometers northwest of Cebu City.

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