CENRO orders halt on Danao digging

The municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office in Danao City ordered a halt on the digging in a 30-foot deep pit where residents may have been looking for  buried treasure in sitio Pasil, barangay Maslog in Danao City, Cebu.

Isidro “Adong” Toledo, barangay Maslog chairman, said they need five dump trucks of  limestone to cover the mouth of the pit that measured 2.5 square meters and is located at the backyard of a cluster of small houses.

“At first the family of the victims volunteered to cover the hole but we told them that it will be done by the local government,” he said.

Toledo said the pit had been fenced following the deaths of four persons in the site last month.

The victims identified as Ernesto Ogabao, Jess Christian Miguel and Amick Buconseho reportedly drowned in the pit after it overflowed with water during their digging last December 26.
Permits

Their 19-year-old neighbor Diomel Mayol also died after he slipped and fell into the pit while trying  to rescue them.

The families of Ogabao, Miguel and Buconseho denied that they were  digging for gold in the area. They said they were trying to dig a water well.

Toledo said the barangay council will pass a resolution requiring the issuance of permits on digging wells in their barangay.

He said the existing deep wells in the barangay are used for washing laundry and dishes.

Toledo said water is not a problem in their barangay since all water sources are within walking distance.

Mayol was buried yesterday while the families of the three victims promised to give cash aid to Mayol’s family.

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