Former Zambales vice governor and task force chair Ramon Lacbain III also released yesterday a report on a new research indicating Rogelio Desaville, 41, the latest victim of allegedly work-related deaths, was the 24th fatality at the Korean shipyard, and not just the 18th as earlier believed. He died last Dec. 6.
Lacbain said that while Desaville died from malaria, he noted that the ailment was work-related as the victim reportedly contracted the mosquito-borne ailment at the worksite amid lack of medical access at the shipyard.
He noted that Desaville was the eighth Hanjin worker to be afflicted with malaria apparently at the worksite. Two other malaria victims died, including Rodel Ednalaga, 28, a helper mechanic, who died last May 20, and Mark Anthony Daa, 38, who died last May 14.
Lacbain said that Desaville manifested symptoms of malaria on Dec. 4 but continued to work at the shipyard.
“Malaria is known to be endemic at the Hanjin area and there should be strict monitoring of workers who have fever. Doctors must be available 24 hours a day at the shipyard,” he added.
His task force’s updated research showed that almost all of the fatalities at Hanjin, which established at Subic two years ago, were workers of the Korean firm’s subcontractors such as Gran-Span Dev’t Corp., Bodahh, Inc., In-Young Int’l Trading Corp., DMK Corp. , KC Power Tech, Globe Distribution Services, HHIC-Motorpool, Subic Ship Builder Corp. , Suschicor, Hanjin Constructiion Corp. Ltd., Subic Hansung Inc. , Binictican Corp., Philnorkor, and Kombo Industries.
Apart from the malaria victims, the other victims who died in various forms of accidents were named in the Task Force’s updated list as Jose Navarro, 19, who died on Feb. 20, 2006, Jake Quilla on Feb. 22, 2006, Misael Yorac Mingkay on Oct. 5, 2006, Leonie Motos on Sept. 1, 2007, Reynan Loquinario on Dec. 24, 2007, Joel Raquine last Jan. 14, Mario Laxamana, 33, last Jan. 16, Jeremias Adamos, 30, also last Jan. 16.
Neil Mojica, 40, last March 10, Eduardo Molina, 36, also last March 10, Angelito Banaag, 39, last March 11, Carlos Espinol, 38, last May 8, Anastacio Ebale, 39, last June 5, Rafael Careg last June 11, Oliver Labay, 32, last June 15, Mario Atrero, 52, last June 20, Benjie GAmolo, 31, last July 12, Arvy Mahinay, 19, last Aug. 6, Efren de la Cruz, 24, last Aug. 12, Philip Mendoza, 24, last Nov. 20, and Jose Vener Gil, 42, last Nov. 26.
Most of the accidents involved falls and being hit by objects. The report also said that the death of Espinol from cardio-respiratory failure was also related to his work, as was allegedly the fatal heart attack of Ebale which the report blamed on “Hanjin guards”.
Last month, Sen. Pia Cayetano called for another Senate investigation into the deaths of Filipino workers at the.shipyard which she described as a “modern-day killing fields”.
