1 death, 5 injuries in MEZ 3 office sabotage incident in Lapu
tragedy struck Mactan Economic Zone 3 in Lapu-Lapu City on Saturday night, April 26, 2025. Five construction workers were arrested, one of whom, a 50-year-old man, was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO), the five suspects are between the ages of 23 and 42. The victims were taken to a private hospital in Barangay Basak and City District Hospital in Barangay Gun-ob.
The construction site, an unnamed light industrial park, is under investigation for suspected negligence or malpractice. Lt. Col. Christian Torres of the LCPO confirmed in an interview with Cebu on Monday, April 28, that the incident occurred during the pouring of cement on the second floor of the building.
Torres stated, "Concrete was being poured when the freshly laid section gave way before it had fully set. We are investigating potential lapses or foul play."
When asked about the Philippine Economic Zone Authority's (Peza) involvement, Torres confirmed that the incident occurred within their area of responsibility, and appropriate action must be taken.
City Engineering Office head Perla Amar revealed in a press conference that the structures in Cebu Light Industrial Park (Clip) fall under Peza's jurisdiction. She stated that the buildings in the area must obtain permits from Peza, but no permits are needed from the city government.
This tragic incident follows recent news of 126 workers being dismissed in Mactan Economic Zones due to the closure of two companies and another reducing operations. This was attributed to a reduction in demand rather than being related to a construction accident[1].
Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island holds historical significance, as it marks the site of Datu Lapu-Lapu's victory over Spanish forces. This victory remains a symbol of resistance to colonization and is celebrated by Filipinos worldwide, including those in Vancouver, Canada, where a tragic incident occurred during a Lapu-Lapu Day celebration[4].
[1] Razon, A. (2025, April 22). At least 126 workers dismissed in Lapu-Lapu. SunStar Cebu. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1936218[4] Gomez, J. (2025, April 15). Vancouver Lapu-Lapu Day celebration ends in tragedy. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.net/global-filipino/vancouver-lapu-lapu-day-celebration-ends-in-tragedy-20250415
- The Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) is investigating the construction site in the Cebu Light Industrial Park (Clip) over suspected negligence or malpractice, as tragedy struck a building under construction there on Saturday night, April 26, 2025.
- The government agency responsible for the area, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), has been notified of the incident and appropriate action is expected to be taken.
- The incident occurred during the pouring of cement on the second floor of the building, resulting in the death of one worker and the arrest of five others.
- In light of this general news, it was reported that 126 workers were recently dismissed from Mactan Economic Zones due to the closure of two companies and another reducing operations. However, this was attributed to a reduction in demand and not related to a construction accident.
