GMA, other firms fined P890K over accident leading to Eddie Garcia’s death

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has ordered GMA Network Inc. and several others to pay an administrative fine of P890,000 in connection with the accident that led to the death of veteran actor Eddie Garcia in June.

“Wherefore, premises considered, GMA Network Inc. and/or Atty. Felipe Enrique L. Gozon, Enhanz Aerial Photography and/or Alpha Premier Transport Services, Gapo Special Effects Services Inc., GMA 7 Employees Multipurpose Coop, Renteqaire Enterprises, CMB Film Services Inc., and Shoot Digital Video Co. are hereby ordered to pay, jointly and severally, the administrative fine in the amount of P890,000 for violation of Sections 14 and 15 Chapter IV of Department Order (DO) No. 198 and Section 6 Rule VII of DO 183 within 10 days from receipt thereof,” read part of the 14-page order dated Dec. 2.Signed by Dole-National Capital Region Director Sarah Buena Mirasol, the order added that a writ of execution shall be issued upon its finality.

Garcia suffered a cervical spine injury after he tripped on a cable while filming the GMA “teleserye” “Rosang Agimat” in Tondo, Manila. He died at the age of 90 after being in a coma for almost two weeks.

Incident report late

During an investigation, the Dole found out that the network committed three violations of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law. These included not submitting an incident report within 24 hours from the time of the accident, not providing a safety officer and not providing a first aid responder.

In its decision, the Dole said that after a careful evaluation of the arguments of the parties concerned, it found out that GMA “clearly [had] exclusive control over the shooting locations and [cast members] like Garcia.

“[G]MA failed to consider the age of Mr. Eddie Garcia and ensure the safety of the shooting location ….While GMA may have required the production of lights and lighting effects, food for employees, talents and crew …. [it] however, failed to deploy personnel that are competent to provide first aid and medical attention to all cast and crew which is in violation of DO 198,” the Dole said.

“It has no safety officer with mandatory training on OSH certified by the Dole or by an accredited training organization when the accident happened,” it added.

GMA’s employment of 11 safety officers with [basic] OSH training at the GMA Compound could not be considered as substantial compliance with OSH standards, the Dole stressed. “GMA should have deployed one of its safety officers [to] the shooting site of ‘Rosang Agimat’ which could have prevented the untimely demise of Mr. Garcia,” it said.