Rappler Aika Rey @reyaika Published 7:05 AM, September 26, 2018

MANILA, Philippines (5th UPDATE) – Seven Metro Rail Transit Line 3 personnel were hurt after two MRT3 maintenance trains collided between Buendia and Guadalupe Stations a couple of hours before the start of operations Wednesday morning, September 26.

The MRT3 personnel, involved in maintenance and security operations, sustained varying degrees of injury and were brought to the Victor R Potenciano Medical Center in Mandaluyong City for treatment, MRT3 management said.


In a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, MRT3 director Michael Capati said one worker, Rogelio Piamonte, was in the intensive care unit and might need to undergo surgery on his shoulder. He sustained a fracture on his right shoulder and pelvis.


MRT3 identified the rest of the injured personnel as follows:


Joseph Cyril Ursua - head laceration


Rengie Velarde - nasal laceration


Alex Lomigo - trauma at the back


Randy Bolilan - head injury


Eric Anthony Cabbab - head trauma and fracture at cheekbone and left arm


Ramil Malibiran - trauma on right knee


They were moved to private rooms for further observation, while Malibiran was discharged at 11 am on Thursday.


The MRT3 management said it would shoulder all medical expenses of the injured personnel. It earlier said 6 personnel were hurt in the accident, but later updated the number to 7.


Delayed operations


The two maintenance trains collided around 3 am, and were removed from the rail tracks around 4:20 am. This delayed the placement of trains in preparation for the start of operations by an hour or at 5:30 am, instead of the usual 4:30 am.


Operations started at around 6 am with 8 trains. By 6:40 am, 14 trains were running. The Department of Transportation deployed buses to help augment passenger volume at the stations.