Iran officials accept findings

IRANIAN officials were satisfied with the report onthe Balamban tragedy as relayed to them by acting Police Provincial Director Erson Digal yesterday at the Capitol.

Former board member Jose Ma. Gastardo, now Capitol consultant on planning and development who attended the meeting with the Iranians, said they accepted both the human and mechanical factors that led to the accident that killed at least 20 people, mostly medical students and doctors.

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Spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda said a team of Iranian officials headed by Ali Razagh Manesh, deputy director general for overseas of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited them yesterday to know the system of the investigation of the police, traffic and insurance.

He said they were also asking for the police to recover the personal belongings of the victims especially a certain phone, which contained a video footage of the victims who were reportedly very happy before the accident.

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Sepulveda said this video clip was uploaded in YouTube, implying that somebody is in possession of the cell phone.

Sepulveda said the accident caught the attention of the president of their country who asked for a speedy investigation. He said most of those who died came from families who are professionals.

He added that Manesh was misty-eyed when he shared the reactions of the victims’ families. The Iranian delegation intends to visit the accident site today.

The closed-door meeting lasted for almost an hour and Iranian officials refused to be interviewed by the media.

Today, they will check the accident site in Balamban and they will be escorted by the provincial police.

Process

Sepulveda said the officials were more concerned about the process, specially on the insurance.

The Iranian delegates proceeded to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Headquarters from the Capitol for a courtesy call on Chief Supt. Ager Ontog Jr.

Ontog, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said the delegates were briefed by acting Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Erson Digal about the progress of the investigation.

They were also told about how the local police handled the investigation of the incident last June.

According to Ontog, the Iranian delegates were satisfied and grateful for the efforts of the local police in investigating the incident.