Man dies after being pinned under tree

TACLOBAN CITY – A 19-year-old laborer died after he was pinned under a freshly cut “kili-kili” tree on Tuesday, June 6, in an upland barangay in Barugo, Leyte.

Barugo police chief Police Capt. Renato Gerona identified the victim as Christian Avila, 19, of Barangay Caboloan. The village is about 10 kilometers away from the town proper.

Investigation said the tree landed on a slope after it was cut by chainsaw operator Albert Tangete, 41, of Barangay Ibag, Barugo.

Avila went under to cut the thick branches as Tangete started to slice the tree into transportable pieces.

However, the tree, which was approximately four meters long, accidentally rolled down the slope and pinned down the victim face-down.

His chest was pierced with a sharp wood approximately four inches in diameter by one foot in length.

Police arrived in the area and saw the victim lying lifeless on the ground beside the tree.

The victim was taken to the Rural Health Unit of Barugo where he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

A post-mortem examination revealed that there was no foul play and the incident was purely an accident in nature.

The tree, which can be used to build houses, as a utility pole, and construct bridges, can be found in Samar and Leyte and other parts of the Philippines.