Quarry operations halted following drowning of 3

A quarry operator along the Bago River in Barangay Napoles, Bago City was ordered to stop operating after three people got drowned there Tuesday.

One of the fatalities was Riza Macatigos, a resident of Purok Paho in the barangay.

Also killed were Macatigos’ 16 year old and 11 year old nieces.

Based on investigation by the Bago City police, the victims, along with Macatigos’ 13-year-old daughter, were taking a bath in the river.

As the kids were horseplaying, Macatigos saw her daughter and two nieces struggling in the river prompting her to jump and help them.

Macatigos managed to save her daughter, but she and her two nieces drowned to their deaths.

Following the incident, Punong Barangay Pepito Eyoy Sr. of Barangay Napoles ordered the quarry site where the three people drowned to halt their operations temporarily.

Based on information obtained by local media, the quarry site was operated by a certain Jose Alvin Gonzaga, under a special permit to expire on April 13 of this year.

There were complaints against the quarry site that even reached Malacañang Palace after the issue was taken up by popular broadcaster Ben Tulfo.

Further information has also surfaced that back in 2021, a public hearing was conducted with regards to the quarry site, however, the residents of Purok Paho, who are heavily opposing the operation of the quarry, failed to appear.

Only the complainants from Purok Suha, Humay, and Bibi appeared in the public hearing.* (DGB)