Mactan-Mandaue bridges not our responsibility — police

Increased visibility of blue guards, security cameras and other measures are being sought on the two Mactan-Mandaue bridges after a swimmer was killed by a man who jumped off the first bridge.

Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said he will make these suggestions to the  Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board to prevent repeated bridge jumps.

He said  that  bridge security is not in the city police’s jurisdiction. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza earlier ordered him to field policemen there.

“That is why I need to talk to the board,” Lawas said.

The board is headed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Last week, Lapu-Lapu city resident Aniano Berdin jumped off the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge and landed on Danilo Sison, who was spearfishing underwater. Berdin survived but Sison was killed.

Police thought he wanted to commit suicide, but Berdin later told reporters he didn’t feel well and just wanted to go swimming.

Video footage of the incident  taken by a security camera on the bridge showed Berdin landing on  Sison feet  first.

Homicide charges were filed by the Sison family against Berdin, who remains detained at the Lapu-Lapu City  precinct.

Last year, police said two persons jumped off the old bridge while three leaped from the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

They were all rescued in the water or persuaded to climb down. Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc