Missing miner’s body retrieved

CEBU, Philippines - Rescuers yesterday morning retrieved the body of 22-year-old miner Jose Melvin Landero, around 27 hours after a cave-in at a mine shaft in Barangay Dunga, Danao City, Cebu claimed his life.

SPO4 Aristeo Espina, Danao City Police Station desk officer, told the The FREEMAN in a telephone interview that rescuers retrieved Landero's body at 8:45 a.m. from the shaft, which is located around 20 kilometers from the city proper, operated by SKI Energy Resources Inc. (SERI).

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy (DOE)-7 implemented yesterday the full suspension of all of SERI's mining operations in Dunga following the death of one of its miners.

Engr. Eduardo Amante, DOE-7 Energy Resources Development and Utilization Division chief, told The FREEMAN that the suspension would remain in effect while investigation is ongoing.

He said that initially, they learned that the mine's roof collapsed, causing the cave-in that happened around 6 a.m. Saturday.

"We still have to gather information from all those who survived the accident. As of this afternoon, they are still sleeping because they have been awake for the past 24-hours for the search rescue operations," Amante said yesterday.

DOE-7's investigating team is expected to be back on the site this afternoon to gather additional. They would also report to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide, III this morning about the incident.

Amante said that SERI, which produces coal, is licensed by DOE and has complied with all requirements for it to legally operate.

SERI's other miners were the ones who found Landero's body, which Espina said was brought to a local funeral parlor.

Espina also said that three other miners who suffered injuries as a result of the collapse are still confined at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Hospital in Cebu City.

Marvin Malbago of Barangay Cahumayan, Isidro Bacang, and Ranel Villanueva, told reporters they tried to bring Landero with them as they fled for safety, but the killed miner told them to go ahead as he was slowing them down.

Landero, they said, told them to leave him and run for their lives.

A total of 14 workers were in the mine when it began collapsing. The miners scrambled for safety but Landero was left behind.

Amante said that based on initial information his office received, Landero, who has been working in the mine for just a month, was the one who warned the other miners that the roof was about to collapse.-/RHM (FREEMAN)