PNP awaits toxicology results of Pasay concert deaths

THE OPEN-AIR concert featured international DJs and drew an estimated 14,000 party-goers at a Pasay City mall. KARL ANGELICA OCAMPO

The Philippine National Police on Monday said it cannot conclude that the deaths of five individuals at a concert in Pasay City over the weekend were drug-related until the results of the toxicology tests on the victims are released.

“The PNP always bases its pronouncements on facts… It’s better to wait for the toxicology results before we assume something on the situation,” Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

READ: Drugs? Dehydration? Probe of Pasay concert deaths on

This amid speculation that drug ingestion and overdose caused the death of five party-goers during and after the Close Up Forever Summer Concert at the SM Mall of Asia grounds late Saturday.

The fatalities included Ariel Leal, 22; Lance Garcia, 36; Bianca Fontejon, 18; Ken Migawa, 18, and American national Eric Anthony Miller, 33. Authorities found that Garcia and Fontejon suffered from massive heart attack.

READ: 5 dead at Pasay City concert

The chief of the Pasay City police was also tightlipped on the details of the incident. “We’re still waiting for the result of the toxicology tests. Our investigation is ongoing,” Senior Supt. Joel Doria told the media.

Mayor declined to conclude that “party drugs” were indeed sold during the event, which was attended by at least 14,000 people.

“It would be unfair to the event organizer if we will accuse them of doing that. Until we’ve found out the toxicology result and we know who’s liable, we can’t associate the use of drugs in the incident,” he said.

READ: Probe of Pasay concert deaths starts

Hands tied 

The PNP also admitted that its hands are tied in the investigation since the organizers and the Pasay Police, before the event, have agreed that the police’s role is limited to providing security outside the perimeter of the event.

“In most events, the police’s role is merely on the peace and order aspect only. Kung may nanggulo, doon kami reresponde (Wherever there’s a disturbance, we’ll respond there),” he said.

This was because the police’s presumption in every concert is that the event would be “wholesome” as what the organizers assured them, said Mayor.

Why refuse investigation?

Chief Insp. Rolando Baula, head of the Pasay Police Station Investigation and Detective Management Branch (SIDMB), earlier said Leal’s family submitted a waiver asking the police not to investigate the death of Leal.

Asked to comment, Mayor said: “The question is, bakit ayaw (why don’t they want an investigation)? If they want to get to the bottom of the incident, why don’t they let us investigate?”

“But what we can do now is to check the circumstances of the death of other victims,” he said.

Baula, in an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990 AM, said he hopes that the toxicology results will be released within the week. JE/rga