POLICE are set to investigate a food and beverage plant in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City after one of its workers was killed on duty while cleaning a pulverizer machine Thursday afternoon, June 2, 2022.

Cpl. Glenn Bordalba of the Mandaue City Police Office Station 3 in Barangay Basak who is leading the investigation told SunStar Cebu Monday, June 6, that they will visit the Universal Robina Corp. (URC) Mandaue City plant in Tabok on Tuesday, June 7, to investigate the matter.

Bordalba added that they have not started the investigation yet as they were not allowed entry to the site by the URC management after the incident was reported to them.

An approval from the corporation’s consultant is needed for the police to conduct an investigation on the site, he said.

The incident happened around 1 p.m. of June 2 while the victim, Stephen Corilla, 33, was working in URC’s Mandaue plant.

Initial reports stated that the pulverizing machine that Corilla was working with accidentally turned on while he was still inside it, leading to his death.

URC’s statement

URC confirmed the incident in a statement Monday, June 6.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of one of our third-party workers due to an incident at the workplace that is now being investigated. We are fully cooperating with the authorities in this effort. Our prayers and condolences go to his loved ones. Through his agency we have reached out to the bereaved family to offer our assistance,” it said.

Condemnation

Labor group Alsa Kontraktwal Cebu has condemned the incident and called for an immediate and independent investigation on what happened.

In a Facebook post, the labor group said the URC is accountable, while it extended its sympathy to the family of Corilla.

Bordalba, meanwhile, said representatives from the URC management and the family of the victim will face each other Tuesday, June 7, for a possible settlement of the case.

Corilla left a wife and three children. / HIC , LMY