1 killed in Antipolo billboard construction accident

MANILA, Philippines—A worker was killed and five others injured when the perimeter wall of a construction site in Masinag, Antipolo City, collapsed Wednesday morning.

Joey Marco, head of the Antipolo rescue team, said the accident happened at 9:05 a.m. while the workers were digging the foundation for a commercial billboard to be erected in front of the SM Mall on Marcos Highway in Barangay (village) Masinag.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Police Officer 2 Ricardo Asuncion clarified that the accident happened at 10:15 am along Marcos Highway just beside the SM Masinag mall.

Ricardo said that an ongoing excavation in a nearby lot allegedly hit the foundation of SM’s wall.

All the workers were pinned under the rubble but the last man to be rescued did not make it to the hospital, Marco said.

The lone fatality was identified as Allan Plutado, Marco said.

His co-workers identified as Crispin Bruan, 50; John Caparro, 19; Dexter Anthony Agullo, 24; Jeric Fabor; 17; and Anthony Mark Guinocor, 19 were rushed to the Antipolo Medical Center.

Asuncion said that the victims were from the Nexus Construction headed by Engineer Michael Raymond Pe Sison.

Work was stopped after the accident, Marco added.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Annie Garcia, an executive of the SM malls management clarified that the accident did not happen in the SM Masinag property.

“It happened at a construction site of a property beside our mall. Just the same, we are helping out in the neighbor’s construction accident. Our SM guards, among others, assisted them and the people of civil defense were very grateful for the quick action of our personnel.” Radyo Inquirer 990 AM

First posted 12:45 pm | Wednesday, December 21st, 2011