BAGUIO CITY – A lady local legislator wants the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Department of Labor and Employment–Occupational Health and Safety (DOLE-OHS) to conduct an in-depth investigation on the November 3, 2024 freight elevator incident at the SM City Baguio that claimed the life of a maintenance crew.
Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria G. Yaranon, in a proposed resolution, said that an in-depth investigation on this controversial incident is needed to ascertain that proper safety measures is strictly observed and that the elevators of various private and public establishments should undergo regular maintenance to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents which might claim more lives in the future.
“This tragedy must be thoroughly looked into for the safety of both mall goers and employees,” Yaranon stressed.
She pointed out that there is a need to assure the public that safety measures are taken to ensure that such an accident will not happen again.
Earlier, a young janitorial leadman of SM City Baguio died after he fell into the freight elevator while conducting routine maintenance checks on the elevators of the said mall Sunday.
The victim was identified as Ruben Dacanay Esguerra, 45, married and a resident of Malaya Village, Dominican-Mirador, Baguio City.
The victim reportedly fell from the third floor up to the ground floor of the freight elevator when he accidentally fell into it after the door of the stocked elevator opened.
He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment of the injuries he sustained after falling from a height of 20 meters but he was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
In an official statement, SM City Baguio assured the public that it is committed to make the mall a safe and enjoyable place for their employees, tenants and customers and that the management will do their utmost best to maintain the same.
“We are sympathizing with the family and will continue to extend our support to them at this trying time,” the SM City Baguio statement added.
Immediately after the incident, a joint investigation was conducted by the local police authorities as contained in the mall’s safety guidelines where the preliminary findings showed that alleged inappropriate application in the operating protocol of the elevator appears to be the cause of the incident.
SM City Baguio is now awaiting the final report of the BCPO on the said matter.
Relatives of the victim also clamored for the conduct of an in-depth investigation on the said incident to ascertain the cause of his untimely demise and for those responsible to be answerable for whatever lapses that have transpired leading to the said unfortunate incident. By HENT
