Machine operator killed

A machine operator of a packaging firm was killed when his head was crushed in between the gears of a bottle-molding machine early yesterday morning in Valenzuela City.

Superintendent Jose Marcelo, city police chief, identified the victim as Richard Santillan, 25, a trimmer employed by the Par Excellence Packaging Corp. on 18 Malinis street, Elbica Compound, Lawang Bato, Valenzuela and residing at 92 Don Manuel Street, Balintawak, Quezon City.

Records showed the incident, which authorities referred to as an "industrial accident,"occurred at around 1:10 a.m. yesterday. Company officials, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that Santillan had just finished taking a break when the accident happened.

For some unexplained reasons, the officials said, Santillan went to the "double station" machine and opened it. Officials said only authorized technicians from the firm’s engineering department are allowed to tinker with the machine. But the victim, although only two months with the company, knew fully well he was not supposed to touch it, much less open it, still did it.

"Hindi na siya nakasigaw. It was over in seconds," the official said.

Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) medico-legal officer Senior Inspector Mon Porciuncula said Santillan’s skull was crushed in between the gears of the bottle-molding machine. He said as the cranial bones collapsed, his brain was flushed out from his head.

Officials quoted co-workers of the victim that he has been showing signs of depression and was unusually quiet days before the incident. — with Pete Laude