THE Department of Justice (DOJ) began on Thursday its investigation on the complaints filed against Unilever executives over the death of five concert attendees during Close-Up's event last year.
In the preliminary investigation, the bouncers, who served as witnesses, affirmed their affidavits before Associate Prosecution Attorney Anna Noreen Devanadera.
Private complainants Gemma Miyagawa and Bibiane Fontejon, parents of two of the victims, also turned their statements into sworn affidavits before Devanadera.
The respondents in the case facing complaints of negligence for the drug-related death of five partygoers failed to attend the probe.
Areal Leal, Lance Garcia, Ken Miyagawa, Bianca Fontejon and American Eric Miller died during Close-Up's party at the Mall of Asia grounds on May 22 of last year
The five, who reportedly took MDMA Homolog (ecstasy) and Methylene Dioxin Cathinones (bath salts) during the said concert died due to the rupture of their internal organs, according to earlier reports from the National Bureau of Investigation Forensic team.
Those who snubbed the subpoena issued by the DOJ are the following: Rohit Jawa, Chairman and CEO of Unilever Philippines; Jesus Canlapan, Manager for Workplace Services and Facility Security; Albert Curnelius Trinidad, Marketing Director of Close-Up; Joy Dalanon-Ocampo, Country Manager for Safety Health and Environment (SHE); Melissa Alcayaga, Procurement Manager; Bea Lagdameo, Close-Up Assistant Brand Manager; Anna Kristina Doctolero, Project Manager; Baby Majalia Ahamadul, Senior Account Manager of Activations Advertising Inc; Reginald Soriano; Eduardo Muego; John Paul DemontaƱo, and Alexis Engelberto Aragon.
The submission of the counter-affidavits of the respondents would be on March 17, at 10 a.m.
The NBI is also directed to submit additional affidavits until Monday, March 6.
In the complaint filed by the NBI, it said that the Close-Up organizers appear to be criminally liable for they held a position of responsibility and authority in the said concert.
"The above-mentioned respondents from Unilever-Close-Up, Activation Advertising and the others appear to be criminally liable based on the responsible officer doctrine for they held a position of responsibility and authority in their respective corporations and had the ability to prevent the unwanted incidents but failed to do so," the complaint read. (SunStar Philippines)