OPERATIONS at a coal mine in Argao were suspended after an explosion late Sunday afternoon that killed two miners and injured one of their companions. It will remain suspended until further notice from the Department of Energy (DOE).
Avelino “Belino” Pantojan, 24, and Sonny Alberca, 22, died in the explosion that rocked the mine, some 23 kilometers from the main road in Linut-od, Argao. Gerry Bandico, who managed to get out of the mine and report the incident, was treated for minor injuries at Pantinople Medical Clinic in the same southern town.
The coal mine, GQ Small-Scale Coal Mining, belongs to Dr. Stanley Caminero, a surgeon and a brother of Provincial Board Member Wilfredo Caminero and lawyer Nestor Caminero.
Inspection
Nestor, who spoke in behalf of the Camineros, joined investigators from the Argao Police Station led by SPO1 Zorobabel Oyangoren and a representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 during an inspection of the mine at 10 a.m. yesterday.
Nestor told reporters that after the blast past 5 p.m. Sunday, a search and rescue operation was their priority, when asked why the management failed to immediately report the accident to the police.
“The answer is simple. It is not a robbery. It is not a murder case. It was a work-related accident that had to be attended to first,” Nestor said.
According to the preliminary report of Engr. Miguel Rubia, coal mine safety engineer, the three miners went inside GQ SSCM-3C “Sun Coal” Proposed Ventilation Shaft without informing or getting clearance from James Belciña, the general foreman and safety inspector.
Before the accident, a brownout in Argao prompted the management to suspend its operations until Monday morning.
When the power was restored past 4 p.m. Sunday, Pantojan, Alberca and Bandico decided to report to work, reportedly without informing the safety engineer and safety inspector.
Risk
Nestor told reporters that Pantojan’s team went to the mine without properly draining the accumulated gas inside.
As standard operating procedure, letting out the accumulated gas usually takes three to four hours. A lead man then goes inside the mine with a gas tester to determine if it is now safe to enter.
Methane gas caused the explosion, confirmed Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos after he met with representatives from the DOE in his office yesterday.
Galeos said the DOE representatives wrapped up their inspection of the blast site and are expected to release their findings this week.
PB Member Caminero also reminded miners in Argao town to take extra care inside the mines by following the rules and policies.
“It was an incident and not a crime,” said Caminero. It was the first explosion since the mine began operating four decades ago, he added.
The bodies of Pantojan and Alberca were retrieved about 2 a.m. Monday and buried later that day.
The Camineros paid for the burial expenses as well as survivor Bandico’s hospital bills.
Others
Pantojan left three children, between four years and two months old. His father, Felix, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, said his family does not have any plan to file a complaint.
Like the Pantojan family, Alberca’s parents also do not want to press charges against the management.
Alberca’s mother, Cecilia, said she is hoping that financial assistance would be extended, especially for the 40-day novena for their son.
Argao Police Chief Teodulfo Manatad III said he would have inspected the mine himself, but had to attend the Cebu Provincial Police Office’s celebration of the 17th PNP anniversary and command conference.
He explained that the investigation was to determine if the mine should continue its operations or remain closed.
Manatad also said there were other coal mines in the mountain villages of Argao and that the investigators should also check on their conditions to find out if they have not violated any safety regulations.
Cebu Provincial Police Director Carmelo Valmoria said they will be coordinating with the Department of Energy, which has jurisdiction over coal mines. (JST/With MEA & GMD)
