3 workers buried alive in Antipolo landslide

MANILA, Philippines - Three workers were buried alive in a landslide at a construction site in Antipolo City yesterday.

Cousins Darwin, Teten and Rene Villegas, all residents of Marikina City, were installing a cement post in a two-story building owned by Jacinto Catipay in Barangay Sta. Cruz when the soil collapsed around 8:30 a.m.

Using a backhoe and a hydraulic cutter, rescue workers retrieved the bodies of the victims after several hours.

One of the workers, Jessie Lorica, was rescued and brought to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Engineer Frederick del Rosario said the workers were buried in at least 12 cubic foot of soil or an equivalent of a dump truck. He said the soil could have loosened because of wastewater flowing from nearby houses.

Residents near the accident were evacuated while the city government of Antipolo is conducting an investigation.

The management of the construction firm said they would shoulder the funeral and other expenses incurred by the families of the victims.