Men digging for gold, not water, Cenro says

The excavations in barangay Maslog, Danao City were illegal and “intended to extract gold nuggets out of the soil” rather than develop new water reservoirs.

These were the results of the investigation conducted by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Danao City on the pit found at the back of the home of Ernesto Ogabao.

Ogabao is one of four victims who died in the pit.

His widow, Teresita, insisted that her husband and two relatives named Jess Christian Miguel and Amick Buconseho were digging a deep well for their water supply.

Electrocuted

A 19-year-old neighbor identified as Diomer Mayol died trying to help them escape from the pit.

In a Jan. 9 report, CENRO Leonides Martel said the pit was dug up a few months before the accident occurred.

Martel said this is contrary to the widow’s claim that the digging started a few weeks before the tragedy.

Martel also said an interview with barangay Maslog chairman Isidro Toledo showed that a “sudden and very fast flow of water filled up the pit where Ogabao, Miguel and Buconseho were and it reached the water pump stationed in the pit.”

He said the three men were electrocuted along with Mayol, who tried to help them get out of the pit.

Collapse

Ramonette Durano Mahinay, information officer of the Danao City government, said no cases were filed against the family for humanitarian reasons. CENRO’s findings include the discovery of a small pulley hanging above the pit which indicated that the “soil below was brought up using a pail.”

A mound of soil was stockpiled near the pit. The pit had  coconut lumber supports which served as posts and loggings. Martel recommended that the Danao City government fill up the pit with the excavated soil.

He said the pit may collapse anytime and endanger the occupants of the house near it.