- DOLE said GMA Network committed 3 violations on occupational safety regulations.
- GMA Network asked for an extension to file their comment on DOLE’s findings.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has found GMA Network liable for committing three violations with regards to occupational health and safety standards in the death of screen veteran Eddie Garcia.
DOLE’s NCR Director Sarah Buena Mirasol said GMA Network and its contractors failed to submit a report on the incident within 24 hours, they also did not provide a safety officer and a first aid professional on set.
The findings was announced by DOLE during the department’s budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, September 4.
Meanwhile, Mirasol said that GMA network and its unnamed contractors have asked for an extension to file their comments on DOLE’s findings. She also added that the parties involved will have a conference with DOLE on September 16. After that DOLE will then come up with a resolution on the incident.
Last August, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello said that GMA Network will be fined 100 thousand per day after finding them liable for the accident of veteran actor Eddie Garcia.
Under the OSH law, a company who fails to comply with the OSH standards will be fined 100 thousand per day until they were able to comply.
On June 8, Eddie Garcia figured in an accident during the taping of GMA Network’s Rosang Agimat.
Initial reports said he suffered from a heart attack but it was later confirmed to be a severe neck injury after the actor tripped on a cable, causing him to fall face-first on the ground.
The actor was comatose for more than a week before succumbing to his injuries on Thursday, June 20.
Days after the accident, GMA Network executives initiated an investigation into what really happened on the set of Rosang Agimat. And on July 2, GMA said they had completed the investigation and that they would inform the family of Eddie Garcia first before releasing any information to the public.
GMA network has yet to release the result of their own investigation.