AN official from the Misamis Oriental II Rural Electric Services Cooperative (Moresco II) has denied responsibility for the death of an Indian national who was fatally injured after his neck was cut by a low-hanging steel drop wire in Barangay Agay-ayan, Gingoog City, last December.
Leo Pollentes, a member of Moresco II’s board of directors, said their internal investigation showed that a 10-wheeler truck carrying an oversized load of falcata logs hit the drop wire before the incident. He claimed the impact caused the wire to sag dangerously low, leading to the accident.
“Nainat ang maong drop wire human masugok sa 10-wheeler maoy hinungdan nga milaylay kini ug nasugok pud dayon sa wing van ug posibling milamba paingon sa naka sunod nga motor diin naka backride ang biktima,” said Pollentes said in a phone interview.
However, police reports and witness accounts have cast doubt on Moresco II’s findings.
PSSgt Joey Austria, the Gingoog City Police investigator handling the case, stated that based on the police blotter, only a wing van was recorded to have struck the drop wire.
A resident living near the scene of the accident told Gold Star Daily that he did not see a falcata truck in the area at the time of the incident.
Major Joann Navarro, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police in Region 10, said Moresco II has the right to conduct its own investigation, but the police will rely on their evidence-based findings.
“The result of the investigation is based on evidence and witness statements. We cannot alter that,” Navarro said.
A separate witness told the newspaper that prior to the incident, a highway construction worker had complained about the low clearance of the drop wire to Moresco II, but the complaint was allegedly ignored.
The investigation remains ongoing.
