The family of 45-year-old Robin Esguera is still struggling to accept what happened to their loved one, a lead man utility worker at a mall in Baguio City.
Around 3:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, November 2, Robin fell into a freight elevator used for mall deliveries.
According to Leonora Dacanay Tablanza, aunt of the victim, “The elevator was reportedly lit, which usually means it’s okay, the box is supposed to be in place. But when it opened, my nephew went in first, and the box was missing.”
The victim fell from a depth of about twenty meters and had only been working at the mall for three months.
“This incident is an accidental fall; there was no foul play involved,” said PMaj. Wiltz Konrad Sally, Station Commander at Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Station 7.
“We are trying to rule out foul play. So, that’s the direction of our investigation; we are checking if it was really an accident, but all evidence indicates it was indeed an accident,” PCol. Ruel Tagel, City Director at BCPO, added.
Attempts to revive Robin at the hospital were unsuccessful; he was declared dead on arrival.
His family believes that there was negligence on the part of the mall.
“Why wasn’t there any signage indicating that the elevator was under maintenance and couldn’t be used?” Tablanza questioned.
SM City Baguio confirmed the incident in an official statement.
They are currently in discussions with the victim’s family and continue to cooperate with the police in the ongoing investigation.
“I hope you take care of your employees; give them the necessary safety measures, not just ignore them. I hope you focus on the investigation. Please pay attention to your employees because without them, you wouldn’t have a business,” Tablanza added.
Robin leaves behind his eight-month-pregnant wife.
**CHARLES NIKKO LIMON
