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Tuesday, September 07, 2004
3 carpenters die in freak mishap
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- Three construction workers died Monday morning after entering an unused septic tank built for a commercial building in Barangay East Poblacion, Naga, Cebu.
The doctor who tried to revive two of the victims could not determine cause of death pending an autopsy, but he said it was possible they died of asphyxiation.
The enclosed structure could have deprived the workers of oxygen, he said.
Residents, though, had a far more other-worldly explanation, and believed evil spirits were responsible.
Alfredo Alfornon, 50, his son Jorimo, 21, and their companion Felix Repunte, 37, were all declared dead on arrival at the hospitals they were taken to.
The three were carpenters.
Jorimo and Repunte were first taken to the Minglanilla District Hospital.
Dr. Roland Catorza said he did his best to resuscitate them, to no avail.
Since Alfredo was still stirring, he was rushed straight to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City.
He was already dead when he entered the emergency room.
According to foreman Arcadio Sayson, he ordered the septic tank opened because they were going to take out some of the wooden scaffoldings underneath its flooring.
After which, they were going to clean the tank and put holes where wastes from the bathrooms would pass through.
The tank had been closed for two weeks before Monday.
Arcadio said he let them wait for about 30 minutes before letting Jorimo enter first.
As soon as he dropped into the two-meter high tank, Jorimo said he felt dizzy and weak, prompting Alfredo to jump in and help him.
Alfredo then also felt weak and Repunte immediately followed.
When all three of them felt faint, the other construction workers panicked and called for help.
Members of the Naga Fire Department took an hour to take them out because they had trouble finding a ladder.
A foreman for 37 years, 67-year-old Arcadio did not expect that to happen because the septic tank had not been used yet.
He said he has been doing this for every project and nothing happened to his workers.
He also thought that Jorimo was electrocuted because he kept on shouting "kurente."
While there was water on the base of the tank, Arcadio said the main switch had been turned off.
"Nahibulong bitaw ko kay wala pa lagi na gamita. Wala pa ma'y chemicals diha (There were no chemicals yet because the tank has not been used yet)," he told reporters.
At least six persons had died after falling into septic tanks last year, but the septic tanks they fell into had been used.
They died after inhaling poisonous fumes emitted from excrement.
While the incident occurred at 8:30 a.m., the police didn't arrive until 1 p.m. to investigate.
They had to get some of their information from reporters.
When Sun.Star called around 10:30 a.m., the policeman who answered said the three were taken to a hospital in Cebu City but were out of danger.
Meanwhile, residents in the area believed that evil spirits caused the misfortune.
They said the construction site used to be a cemetery, which is located behind the Naga Parish Church.
They said there used to be on the spot a caimito tree where spirits lived, which was cut down without proper blessing.
When construction workers began digging for the septic tank, they reportedly found human bones.
According to resident Jimmy Abangan, it was too hot inside the tank and it did not have enough air for them to breathe.
He said the victims probably didn't notice the high temperature inside because they merely jumped in instead of using a ladder to get down.
The building began construction last March 24.
Arcadio's cousin Clarita owns the building.
Last July 28, 2003 four men died trying to save a woman who fell into a seven-foot septic tank in Sitio Lower Sambag 2, Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Rescuers Franklyn Mahayahay, Christopher Gabihan, Jerome Caabihan and Glenn Perami died that night while Wilma Badayos died three days later.
(September 7, 2004 issue)
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