BY JONATHAN HICAP
Representatives from San Miguel Corp. and EEI Corp. said negligence on the part of the crane operator led to the collapse of a Skyway extension project girder that killed one person and injured eight others on Nov. 21 on East Service Road in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi convened a meeting Monday morning with SMC and EEI representatives to shed light on the Skyway accident.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac and members of the City Council including Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro were also present.
Corro said initial investigation by SMC and EEI pointed to negligence of the crane operator of Mayon Machineries, which was hired by EEI as subcontractor for the use of the crawler crane.
The Muntinlupa Police earlier identified the crane operator as Enrico Gregorio, 41, of Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite.
Inquest proceedings have been completed by the Muntinlupa prosecutor’s office against Gregorio for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple injuries, and damage to property.
Gregorio is under the custody of the Muntinlupa Police.
The operator was moving the crane when at about 8:50 a.m. when its boom hit the girder that was already positioned between two posts of the Skyway extension project. This caused the girder to fall and hit vehicles below.
According to Biazon, the EEI representative said the crane “operator made a maneuver which was not part of standard movement when making the maneuver.”
The Skyway extension project was being constructed in time for its completion in December this year. Because of the accident, the completion was pushed to February next year, SMC previously said.
Corro said SMC and EEI will submit a thorough investigation report of the incident in two days to the Muntinlupa City government.
The two firms were also ordered by the city government to submit a written report on the safety protocols to be implemented to avoid similar accident.
According to the Muntinlupa Police and city government, Edison Paquibot, 43, of Lessandra Heights, Molino 4, Bacoor, Cavite, who was driving a Yamaha Mio Soul motorcycle, was killed in the Skyway accident. During the meeting, SMC assured that it will assist the victims of the accident, he added. (Jonathan Hicap)
