After two months of a thorough investigation into the unfortunate demise of veteran actor Eddie Garcia, the final results of the probe are set to be released by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on August 30.
Meanwhile, the DOLE Regional Office, which is spearheading the investigating committee, released a mandate to GMA Network to disclose the full list of shooting locations for its teleseryes for possible inspection.
GMA Network is reported to be actively participating and fully cooperating in the investigation regarding the incident.
On June 8, Garcia suffered a fracture of the cervical spine after tripping on a wire on the set of his comeback GMA Network teleserye, Rosang Agimat. After almost two weeks of being in a coma, the actor succumbed to his injuries on June 20.
Based on the report of Inquirer.net, the department’s investigating committee led by Dole-NCR Regional Director Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, and GMA executives sat down to talk about the results of the network’s own probe, and the measures it has taken to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
Mirasol revealed, “We then learned that the cause of death was due to an accident, which was contrary to the initial reports that stated Mr. Garcia experienced dizziness, which caused him to fall.”
She went on: “Our mandate is that if there is an accident, we issue an authority to inspect, and we conduct an OSH (Occupational Safety and Health standards) investigation if there are injuries or death in the workplace. This case presents a unique situation because the workplace is a temporary worksite, unlike a project site for the construction industry, where there is a certain period for the completion of the project life, and in such event, we can go directly to the worksite and inspect.”
According to the DOLE Regional Director, the committee called for a meeting with GMA executives since “we could no longer conduct an OSH investigation on the worksite because the project has already ceased. Our agreement was for GMA to furnish us with a copy of its investigation report, which they provided, and it was also accompanied by footage during the incident.”
Aside from the Dole-NCR Regional Office, part of the investigating committee included the Bureau of Working Conditions as the policy arm of the department and the Occupational Safety and Health Center that focuses on conducting research and training regarding the safety, health, and welfare of people at work.
With the footage and documentation at hand, Mirasol revealed that “there was a failure of GMA to report the incident to us” and that the network had violated the OSH Law.
Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III also shared with media the initial findings of the investigating committee last week.
In his statement, the Labor Secretary stressed had there been a safety officer, the accident that caused Garcia’s tragic death could have been avoided.
“There was a lack of compliance with the requirement that in every activity there should be a safety officer. They didn’t have one. Otherwise, Eddie Garcia would not have died,” Bello said.
Because of this, DOLE penalized GMA Network with a possible fine of P100,000 a day until they are able to comply with the provisions of Dole Department Order No. 198-18 Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11058—An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, also known as the OSH Law.
Furthermore, the actor’s family can still take legal actions against the network if they intend to.
Because of Garcia’s death, DOLE has strictly enforced occupational safety and health standards in every workplace.
