Man dies after being pinned under tree

ILOILO CITY — A 42-year-old man died after he was pinned under a tree that had been cut with a chainsaw in Maasin, Iloilo, on the morning of Sept. 23.

Police identified the victim as alias Rey, a utility worker at Daja Elementary School and a resident of nearby Barangay Santa Rita in Maasin.

According to reports, Rey was assisting a 48-year-old chainsaw operator identified as alias Arman, a resident of Barangay Daja, in cutting down a tree on private property.

Police Lt. Cyrone Empedrad, Maasin police chief, said the property owner had secured a permit from the barangay to have the mahogany tree cut.

When the tree was about to fall, the victim went to the middle of the road to stop traffic.

For reasons still unclear, Rey was unable to move out of the way when the tree fell in his direction.

He was rushed to the Maasin Rural Health Unit but was declared dead on arrival.

The chainsaw operator was placed under police custody.

Empedrad said police were still waiting for the victim’s family to decide whether to pursue a case or seek an amicable settlement with Arman’s camp.