Possible foul play probed in architect’s deadly fall in QC

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said it was looking into possible “foul play” in the death of an architect who reportedly mistook an elevator shaft door for a restroom entrance, adding that it would also investigate the accountability of the building management.

“Bukod sa iimbestigahan natin kung may ‘foul play,’ aalamin din natin kung may pagkukulang o kapabayaan sa pamunuan ng naturang gusali kung saan maari silang mapanagot,” QCPD Director Police Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel Jr. said in a statement on Monday.

Esquivel identified the victim as 37-year-old Michael Alfonso.

According to the investigation, witness Gerard Mondia said that he and Alfonso left a fitness gym on the third floor of Cyberpark Tower 1 in Cubao at about 9:10 p.m. on Saturday (March 2).

Mondia said Alfonso was looking for a place to change his clothes when he saw a door which he thought led to a restroom.

However, the door led to the building’s high-zone elevator, the witness added.

Alfonso fell three floors down the elevator shaft and landed in the building’s basement.

This prompted Mondia to immediately seek assistance from the duty guard who called an ambulance that rushed Alfonso to the World Citi Medical Center where he was declared dead on arrival.

According to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team, Alfonso sustained head injuries and a fracture on his left arm.

The victim’s body was placed in the custody of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory for autopsy.

Investigators noted the lack of any signage that indicated that the door was for an elevator shaft.

In its initial investigation, the building management said, “Two men managed to open an emergency service door of a high-zone elevator shaft and one of them fell into it.”

The building management extended its condolences to the family of Alfonso and promised to give them the “necessary assistance in their time of grief.” It also said that they were investigating the incident. /cbb

READ: Building management probes elevator shaft death