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Autopsy on 3 workers OK’d
OSHA also probes tragic incident
Attorney General Edward Manibusan has approved a request for an autopsy on the remains of the three workers who were killed while working inside a Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s 24-foot sewer well in San Antonio.
The Department of Public Safety made the request.
It is believed the three died due to toxic gas exposure and drowning.
Acting chief prosecutor Matthew Baisley told Saipan Tribune yesterday that Guam chief medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola will conduct the autopsy at the Commonwealth Health Center’s morgue tomorrow morning, Saturday.
Baisley said because USA Fanter Corp. Ltd. was subcontracted by CUC, a government agency, DPS is working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on the investigation.
The victims, identified as Ricky Quijano, 47, Amid Tapon, 41, and Danilo Paglinawan, 53, all Filipinos, worked for USA Fanter.
Baisley said OSHA is a federal agency that investigates work-related deaths involving government agencies or contractors.
“USA Fanter, CUC, and their employees have been fully cooperating with the investigation,” he said.
Baisley said DPS reported its preliminary findings to the Office of the Attorney General and requested that autopsies on the bodies of the deceased workers be conducted.
After a review of all the known circumstances surrounding the incident, Manibusan approved the autopsy request in order to determine the exact cause and manner of death of the victims, Baisley said.
“The OAG cannot provide any further information at this time because the investigation is ongoing,” he said.
CUC is reportedly conducting a parallel investigation of the incident.
Police said the three workers were killed while doing repair work inside the sewer well at the CUC lift station at Pakpak Beach in San Antonio last Friday, July 7.
DPS said the preliminary findings show that the workers were exposed to high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas inside the well.
DPS said other factors include wastewater presence that was about 6 to 7 inches deep, which may have possibly caused the victims to drown.
MD: Attorney General Edward Manibusan has approved the autopsy on the three workers who were killed
