Vietnamese crane operator nabbed over worker’s death

MANILA, Philippines – Police on Tuesday said that they have arrested a  Vietnamese man who operated a crane that figured in an accident that killed a worker in Manila on Monday.

SPO3 Paul Dennis Javier, case investigator at the Homicide Section of the Manila Police District, in his report to Homicide Section chief Senior Inspector Joselito de Ocampo, identified the suspect as 32-year-old Tong Thanh Viet, who operated cranes for the shipping vessel MV Quang Minh Star.

The Vietnamese shipping vessel was docked along the breakwaters of Manila Bay at Pier 1, South Harbor in Manila at around 10:30 a.m. when the victim Carlo Salcedo, 35, who worked as a marine surveyor for Cares Adjuster and Surveyors Incorporated, was hit by a hatch cover hoisted by the crane which was operated by the suspect.

Tong Thanh Viet was positively identified as the suspect by witness Allan Ogalesco, Salcedo’s trainee who was working with the victim when he was hit by the hatch cover.

Javier said that Salcedo suffered multiple injuries when he was pinned on the ground by the hatch cover and was declared dead on arrival after he was rushed at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital for medical treatment. His remains have been turned over to Nacional Funeral for autopsy.

Tong Thanh Viet was surrendered to police by ship captain Nguyen The Minh, who also served as interpreter for the suspect and the police in reading out the case of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide which was filed against him.

Javier said that they have informed Nguyen Thanh Cong, Second Secretary of the Vietnam Embassy about the case.