CDC security personnel with 3 of the victims. Photo by Ding Cervantes
CLARK FREEPORT – Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President and CEO Felipe Antonio Remollo ordered an investigation on the accident at the warehouse building here which collapsed on Friday, killing four people.
Remollo said he had asked the construction of the building to stop and “find the real reason behind the deadly accident.”
At least four workers died and five others were injured after a concrete warehouse building they were finishing collapsed on them amid a freak tornado at about 2 p.m.
Paul Bredes, foreman of Trust Costruction Co., told Punto that three of his workers were pinned to death while another one died in a hospital in Angeles City.
Bredes identified those pinned to death as laborers Joel Villarada, Rico Mabag and Ryan Grastuito while another one, Erwin Laxamana died in a local hospital an hour after he was rescued by security men from the Clark Development Corp.
“The warehouse was almost finished and they were doing only some finishing touches when a strong tornado swirled around the building and it collapsed,” Bredes said. The warehouse was being done for Haven Pharmaceutical Co., he said.
Four of those who sustained various forms of injuries and were brought to nearby hospitals were named by Bredes as Joven Mea, Rey Galos, Angelito Galicuya and Rolly Sarmiento. The fifth injured worker was not immediately named.
Bredes said that his construction firm is based in Manila and that some of the victims, including one dead, were his friends from Cavite.
No official from neither the construction firm nor the pharmaceutical company could be immediately interviewed.
By Ding Cervantes and Joey Pavia
