The News Today Online Edition - Iloilo News and Panay News

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Leyte man digs own grave

Suspected treasure-hunting activity turned tragic in Jaro, Iloilo City after a tunnel dug inside the house caved in, trapping a laborer.

As of Thursday morning, the body of 21-year-old laborer Efren Reyes, a native of Leyte has not yet been retrieved by rescue groups. Homeowner Karen Bartolome hired Reyes, along with two other diggers identified as Nestorio Cayago and Romeo Macapanes to dig a well. All three are natives of Balabas, Leyte.

The alarm was sounded off to authorities about the accident early Tuesday afternoon however responding teams of search and rescue groups were barred entry.  Even barangay officials in the area were refused admission as operatives of the Police Precinct 3 in Jaro tried to search for clues on what happened.

Radio reports disclosed that the woman owner later allowed up to ten people inside the house but as of press time Wednesday, the rescue operation has turned into a retrieval effort hampered by not enough direction where to focus the search.

First in the area were members of the Royal Eagle Volunteer Rescue Group headed by SPO2 Roy Bagares.  Hours of initial attempt failed with more men brought in the next day as other rescue organizations came in to augment.

In a phone interview, SPO2 Virgilio de los Reyes told The News Today that investigation continues even as he admits the uncooperative stance of Bartolome.  PO3 Rey de los Santos is the lead investigator assigned on the case. 

De los Reyes also bared to The News Today that the “official” reason given for the digging is the search for a water source. 

However rescuers similarly expressed doubts particularly since the hole was made right in the middle of the front room with a crude “square-like cut” on the marble-slabs of said room.

“Who in her right mind will put up a well in her living room? It looks like a tunnel too,” one unidentified rescuer reached by reporters said in an interview.

Suspicions also abound with neighbors' accounts disclosed on how the house seemed abandoned during the day but with so much activity at night till dawn. 

Truckloads of loose soil would also be transported to and from the house as plywood and PVC pipes were delivered hours before the caving in was reported.

Coast Guard Auxillary's Capt. Nilo Sason told Bombo Radyo he tried to coax the other digger to accompany him back in the hole and point where he last saw the missing companion.  Sason's efforts failed though as the digger refused to even go near the dug-up area.

Barangay residents milled around the Bartolome property with tidbits of information to the reporters present.  One longtime resident said the Bartolome's helper was sent for a paid vacation further heightening suspicions on the ‘secret' activity inside the residence.