VECO AND PLDT POST COLLAPSE/JULY 08,2015:Cameraman of take photage of the post that collapse that killed a 13 year old boy and injured two others in Mc Arthur blvrd.(CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
A 13-year-old boy was killed while two 13-year-old girls were injured after a concrete pole of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco) fell on the youths at a barbecue station on S. Osmeña Road, Cebu City.
The mishap occured at 9:30 a.m shortly after a truck passed by, snagging overhead wires of the post which was pulled down.
A video of the collapse was recorded in the CCTV camera of a nearby establishment, and posted online.
BACKSTORY: Boy died, girl injured in electric post collapse
The boy, Ralph Bureros of Zapanta St., barangay Tejero, was sitting on a bench when the pole fell on him. He was pronounced dead at the Cebu City Medical Center. Ralph was electrocuted and broke his right leg. A piece of wood from a damaged table pierced his chest.
Jeserea Ambros, who suffered head injuries and electric burns, remains confined at the CCMC. A second girl, and Dorine Estologa, was treated for wounds in her left arm.
A 10-year-old boy, Jonard Oponda, was able to move away quickly and escape injury.
The fatality’s father, Edmundo Bureros, said the utility company shared responsibility for the accident because barangay officials had earlier complained to Veco to address loosened wires of the post that posed danger to the public.
Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera at first had two employees of Veco’s contractor ROSCH, Fernando Maluya Inot and Jessie Ngojo arrested right after the mishap.
The two men were later released when the boy’s parents agreed to an amicable settlement.
“The life of the 13-year-old Raphael Burerros could have been spared if the electric post was given immediate attention.
If only Veco personnel had acted on it immediately. We called them to help in fixing the dangling wires of the post minutes before the accident, but they refused because they said it was not their line but PLDT’s,” said Garganera.
The families of the victims later decided not to file charges against Veco after they reached an amicable settlement at the Waterfront Police Station.
Bureros’ father, Edmundo, appealed to Maria Theresa Coloyan of Veco’s Legal Compliance department for assistance for the child’s burial.
Under the amicable settlement, Veco was not held liable for the mishap because of reports that a truck had passed by and got entangled in the overhead cables, dragging the post down. An amount was given for humanitarian consideration with a promise to “assist victims with initial needs in the hospital”.
The agreement was signed by Edmundo, Ambos’ father Dominador, and Estologa’s mother Doreen, Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera and Fernando Maluya Inot and Jessie Ngojo of ROSCH, VECO’s contractor.