THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed charges with the Department of Justice (DOJ) against multinational giant Unilever Philippines and the organizers of the rave party that saw five people dead last year over alleged drug overdose.
After thorough investigation, the NBI filed Wednesday complaints for criminal negligence against 13 executives of Unilever and the organizers of the Close-Up "Forever Summer" concert held in the Mall of Asia grounds last May 22, 2016.
Respondents in the case are Rohit Jawa, chairman and CEO of Unilever Philipines; Jesus Canlapan, manager for Workplace Services and Facility Security; Albert Curnelius Trinidad, marketing director of Close Up; Joy Dalanon-Ocampo, country manager for Safety Health and Environment; Melissa Alcayaga, procurement manager; Bea Lagdameo, Close-Up assistant brand manager; Anna Kristina Doctolero, project manager; Baby Majalia Ahamadul, senior account manager of Activations Advertising Inc.; and Reginald Soriano, Eduardo Muego, John Paul Demontaño, and Alexis Engelberto Aragon.
In the complaint of the NBI, it said that the respondents appear to be criminally liable for they held a position of responsibility, authority, in their cooperation in the said concert.
It further said that the said respondents had the ability to prevent the unwanted incidents but failed to do so.
On May 22, 2016, partygoers Areal Leal, Lance Garcia, Ken Labugin, Bianca Fontejon and American Eric Miller died after the Close-Up summer party in Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.
NBI Forensic Investigation team earlier found presence of MDMA methylene homolog (ecstasy) and methylene dioxin cathinones (Bath salts) in the cadaver of one of the victims.
The NBI said the drugs may have caused the blackening of the heart and the rupture of the internal organs of the victims who died during the party. (VoxPop Philippines)
