Mayor, nine other people are being prosecuted

CEBU CITY — A municipal mayor and several others are facing criminal charges over the death of a construction worker in an accident last June in Dalaguete City, Cebu Province.

Jerson Enseñales, 21, died after falling from a height of 30 feet while installing metal trusses for a multi-purpose building in Barangay Maluray.

The National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas (NBI-7) has filed multiple charges against Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante and nine others, including city engineers Expedizitas Lenares, Fernando Armecin and Ernie Quilaton Amarado, and junior project engineer Juan des Department of Public Works and Highways Paulo Castillo.

Executives from Power Frame Construction and Development Corp., the company handling the project, are also implicated in the accident.

They are Peter Paul Dy Jr., Arthur Kenneth Dy, Sally Marjorie Lugtu, Mary Joy de la Cruz and Henry Dy. They are accused of willful imprudence that led to murder, bribery and serious misconduct.

An NBI-7 investigation revealed that Enseñales had not been provided with safety equipment such as a hard hat and harness when he was tasked with installing metal trusses. Investigators also found that local contractors, including Enseñales, were improperly assigned to private contractor Power Frame using municipal funds

This violation of regulations led to further charges of bribery and misappropriation of public funds against the mayor. NBI-7 Director Rennan Augustus Oliva noted that supervising city engineers failed to ensure proper safety at the construction site.

The investigation also raised concerns about the misuse of public labor and government resources for a private project.

Although NBI-7 summoned the defendant, only a representative from Mayor Cesante’s office showed up, citing a conflict in their schedules. The others failed to state their side.

Enseñales’ family initially sought the help of NBI-7 because they suspected foul play due to the lack of security equipment.

Enseñales was the breadwinner of the family and supported his relatives in Barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete. NBI-7 findings revealed that the P4.9 million project was awarded to Power Frame.

However, contract employees from the city administration and municipal equipment were used to carry out the work.