3 die of gas poison inside Benguet mine

By Larry Madarang   

ITOGON, Benguet—Three pocket miners died due to gas poisoning in a private mine in Itogon town last week.

Supt. Cherry Fajardo, information officer of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera identified the casualties as Sabado Maliongan, 22, single, miner; Igan Lomebyang, 25, single, miner and Ricky Licawen, 28, married, miner, all residents of Luneta, Loacan, Itogon.

Fajardo said the victims were believed to have succumbed to the poisonous gas at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

Investigation disclosed that the victims entered the mine tunnel in Simot-simot, Luneta, Loacan about 10:00 p.m. and did not come out since then.

Fajardo said, at about 6 a.m. the next day, their co-worker, Francis Dagayon entered the tunnel and discovered the lifeless bodies of the victims prompting him to inform their employer.

The victims were declared dead by the Municipal health officer and were brought to the Bahay Damayan Funeral Homes in Baguio City.