Close-Up Forever Summer concert deaths

Last updated

Close-Up Forever Summer concert tragedy
SM Mall of Asia Aerial Shot.JPG
SM Mall of Asia shopping mall complex. The event took place at the SM Mall of Asia parking area.
DateMay 22, 2016
TimeNo exact time specified in official police reports. [1]
Venue SM Mall of Asia concert grounds
Location Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates 14°32′06″N120°58′56″E / 14.5351°N 120.9821°E / 14.5351; 120.9821
Also known asPasay concert tragedy
Forever Summer concert tragedy
Organised byClose-Up Philippines
Deaths5

In the early morning hours of May 22, 2016, five people died after taking alleged illegal drugs during a rave dance party organized by Close-Up entitled Forever Summer, at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds in Pasay, Philippines. [2] [3]

Contents

Incident and investigation

A report from Pasay city police stated that four casualties — namely Bianca Fontejon (18), American national Eric Anthony Miller (33), Ariel Leal (22) and Lance Garcia (36) — were found unconscious while the concert, called "Close-Up Forever Summer", was ongoing at the SM Mall of Asia. All four were brought to a hospital but died shortly thereafter. [4] A fifth casualty — Ken Migawa (18), also found unconscious, was later brought to a hospital in critical condition and died the night of May 22. [4] The five fatalities were not acquainted with each other. [5] The deaths occurred hours after the concert began. [6]

At the time of the concert, no bouncers or security personnel were present at the middle of gathering but about 70 policemen were deployed at the venue. [3]

Investigating officer Giovanni Arcinue said that the police were looking at dehydration or heat stroke as possible causes as the country is in dry season brought about by El Niño. [7] Netizens speculated that the victims took the recreational drug called "Green Amore", a lethal mix of ecstasy and methamphetamine. [8] Investigators stated that the rumors on social media still presume that drug-laced drinks were the probable cause of their deaths. [7]

Autopsy

On May 22, an autopsy report revealed that Fontejon and Garcia died due to sudden heart attack, this according to Dr. Wilfredo Esquivel Tierra, Assistant Chief of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Medico-Legal Division. [9] [1] [8] According to the medico legal report of NBI, it was shown that Fontejon had two types of dangerous drugs in her body: MDMA methylene homolog and synthetic cathinones. The NBI refused to speculate how it got into her body. [10] The last two autopsies conducted by Superintendent Bonnie Chua, head of the Crime Laboratory of the Southern Police District (SPD), revealed that Migawa and Miller died of heart failure and brain swelling. [11]

In a statement given on May 26, the NBI revealed that whatever the fatalities had ingested can be described as "explosive". It was potent enough to damage the heart and internal organs of the victims, which showed signs of ruptured tissues and blood vessels. According to the medico-legal officer assigned to the case, the autopsy results were unusual and it was his "first time to witness a severe form of organ damage". All parts of the heart were greatly damaged; the heart turned from pink in color to brown, red and black. The NBI also clarified that heart attack was not the only cause of the deaths, but also the simultaneous failure of internal organs — swelling of the brain, lungs, liver, intestines, spleen and kidneys. [12]

On June 7, the PNP Crime Laboratory confirmed that the amphetamine-based metabolites para-Methoxyamphetamine and methylenedioxyamphetamine were found on the bodies of Migawa and Miller, in addition to traces of methylenedioxycathinone found on Migawa. [13]

Suspects

On the morning of May 28, 2016, the NBI in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested 23-year-old Joshua Habalo in an entrapment operation at a club at the Remington Hotel, located within the Resorts World Manila complex in Pasay. According to Senior Investigator Salvador Arteche Jr., Habalo offered the undercover NBI operatives five tablets of pink ecstasy worth ₱1,500 before the operatives seized the tablets, in addition to five sachets of suspected cocaine and another sachet of three green capsules suspected to be the "green amore", the designer drug believed to have been sold at the concert which the five victims may have taken. The NBI and the PDEA have said that Habalo will be charged of drug possession and selling of drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. [14] [15]

On June 1, 2016, the NBI arrested in a buy bust operation five persons allegedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs at the CloseUp Forever Summer concert. Arrested were Marc Deen, his wife Erica Valbuena, Thomas Halili, Martin Dimacali and Seergeoh Villanueva (alias Gio). During the buy bust operation conducted in Parañaque, Atty. Joel Tovera, chief of the NBI's Anti-Illegal Drugs Division, said it was Villanueva who handed a small medicine bottle containing 10 pieces of ecstasy pills after receiving the marked money. The NBI agents proceeded to the condominium unit where Deen was waiting for his share of the proceeds of the ecstasy sale. Inside Deen's condominium unit was a kitchen type laboratory where the illegal drugs were being manufactured. Also recovered in the operation were synthetic materials, various drug paraphernalia and a manual on making illegal drugs such as methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, D-lysergic acid diethylamide and gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) or liquid ecstasy. [16]

Reactions

In a statement posted on their official Facebook page, CloseUp extended their sympathies to the families of the fatalities, and vowed to extend medical assistance support so the victims may fully recover. [2]

Then presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte called a press conference on May 26 in response to the concert deaths. He questioned how illegal drugs entered the concert, despite police presence. [17] He also called for reshuffling of police and military personnel, and increased security during concerts to prevent illegal drugs from being smuggled into the event. [17] [18]

Senator Tito Sotto said in a privilege speech in the Senate that the use of the over-the-counter drug "Wari-Activ" (muscle pain killer, also known as laughing gas) is one of the reasons for the death of 5 people in the concert. [19]

Aftermath

On February 1, 2017, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) formally charged the executives of Unilever Philippines and their event organizers for criminal negligence before the Department of Justice. The NBI, representing several relatives of the victims, has said the respondents are criminally liable based on the responsible officer doctrine "for they held a position of responsibility and authority in their respective corporations, and had the ability to prevent the unwanted incidents but failed to do so." [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodrigo Duterte</span> President of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022

Rodrigo Roa Duterte, also known as Digong, Rody, and by the initials DU30 and PRRD, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the chairperson of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino, the ruling political party in the Philippines during his presidency. Duterte is the first president of the Philippines to be from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assume office, beginning his term at age 71.

The Davao Death Squad (DDS) is a death squad group in Davao City, Philippines. The group is alleged to have conducted summary executions of street children and individuals suspected of petty crimes and drug dealing. It has been estimated that the group is responsible for the killing or disappearance of between 1,020 and 1,040 people between 1998 and 2008. A 2009 report by the Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) noted stonewalling by local police under the mayorship of Rodrigo Duterte while a leaked cable observed a lack of public outrage among Davao residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency</span> Law enforcement agency

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is the lead anti-drug law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The prevalence of illegal drug use in the Philippines is lower than the global average, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the country could become a "narco-state". Two of the most used and valuable illegal drugs in the country are methamphetamine hydrochloride and marijuana. In 2012, the United Nations said the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine use in East Asia, and according to a U.S. State Department report, 2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 use the drug based on 2008 figures by the Philippines Dangerous Drugs Board. As of 2016, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime report that 1.1 percent of Filipinos aged 10 to 69 use the drug. In Metro Manila, most barangays are affected by illegal drugs.

2017 in the Philippines details events of note that happened in the Philippines in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald dela Rosa</span> Filipino politician and retired police general (born 1962)

Ronald Marapon dela Rosa, known by his nickname Bato, is a Filipino politician and retired police officer who is currently serving as a Senator since 2019. He served under the Duterte administration as the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from July 1, 2016 to April 19, 2018, overseeing the government's anti-drug campaign. He also served as Director General of the Bureau of Corrections from April 30 to October 12, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine drug war</span> Campaign against illegal drug trade in the Philippines

The War on Drugs is the intensified anti-drug campaign that began during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, who served office from June 30, 2016, to June 30, 2022. The campaign reduced drug proliferation in the country, but has been marred by extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the police and unknown assailants. By 2022, the number of drug suspects killed since 2016 was officially tallied by the government as 6,252; human rights organizations and academics, however, estimate that 12,000 to 30,000 civilians have been killed in "anti-drug operations" carried out by the Philippine National Police and vigilantes.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a speech at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Camp Panacan, Davao City on August 7, 2016. In the speech, delivered shortly after midnight during his wake visit to four NavForEastMin soldiers killed during clashes with the New People's Army in Compostela Valley, Duterte revealed the names of 150 public officials, including mayors and other local government executives, legislators, police, military and judges, found to be involved in illegal drug trade. He described the drugs situation in the country as "pandemic" after 600,000 drug dealers and dependents have surrendered to the police in just one month since he took office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal</span>

The New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal is a criminal investigation and political scandal concerning allegations of government involvement in illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila, Philippines. The allegations were made by President Rodrigo Duterte after announcing that the two top convicted drug lords in the country continued to run their drug rings from inside the national penitentiary with former administration officials and their local government cohorts as co-conspirators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Rolando Espinosa</span> 2016 death in Baybay, Leyte, Philippines

Rolando Rosal Espinosa Sr., the mayor of Albuera, Leyte, died on November 5, 2016, at the Baybay City Provincial Jail. He was detained at the jail due to his arrest for illegal drug possession in October 2016. According to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Espinosa was killed during a shootout that he initiated when the CIDG came to the jail to serve him a search warrant. Espinosa's death occurred amid allegations that he was involved in the drug trade by President Rodrigo Duterte, who initiated the Philippine Drug War intending to kill criminals using or distributing drugs. The Commission on Human Rights and Karapatan have held Duterte accountable for Espinosa's death, with Senate condemning the death as an instance of extrajudicial killing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in the Philippines</span>

The cultivation and use of cannabis is illegal in the Philippines under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. As the Philippines is a signatory to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug, which limits its use to medical and scientific purposes. Marijuana is the second most used drug in the Philippines, after shabu (methamphetamine), and most cultivation in the country is for local consumption. Cannabis is cultivated mostly in the remote, mountainous regions of Luzon and Mindanao.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidnapping and killing of Jee Ick-Joo</span> 2016 murder in the Philippines

Jee Ick-Joo (Korean: 지익주) was a South Korean businessman kidnapped by two policemen and later found dead on October 18, 2016, within the grounds of Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP). A funeral parlor cremated his remains and flushed his ashes down a toilet. The policemen who kidnapped him were charged with kidnapping, carnapping, and homicide, while the officer who planned the attack was initially acquitted, but this decision was overturned on appeal in 2024 and he was convicted of kidnapping and homicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murders of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman</span> Murders of three teenagers in the Philippines by police officers

Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman were three teenagers who were killed on August 16 to 18, 2017, during the course of the Philippine drug war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine offshore gaming operator</span> Online gambling service provider

Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), renamed Internet gaming licensees (IGLs) in October 2023, are firms operating in the Philippines that offer online gambling services to markets outside the country, with a significant portion catering to the Chinese market. POGOs began operating in the Philippines in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs</span> Law enforcement agency

The Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) is an inter-governmental forum in the Philippines responsible for ensuring government agencies in implementing and complying with all policies pertaining to the anti-illegal drug campaign. The agency was formed by Executive Order No. 5, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 6, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 PNP–PDEA shootout</span> Fatal gun battle between 2 law enforcement agencies in a major Philippine city

On February 24, 2021, a botched buy-bust operation resulted in a shootout between units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. The incident resulted in the deaths of two police officers, a PDEA agent and an informant. Both agencies claimed that they had been conducting a legitimate anti-drug operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pharmally scandal</span> Filipino scandal

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. became involved in a scandal over allegations of overpriced medical supplies it supplied to the Philippine government for the latter's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate of the Philippines launched an investigation into the matter and uncovered other issues, such as the supplied face shields' alleged substandard quality and how the company was able to secure a contract worth billions of pesos despite being founded only in 2019 with a small paid-up capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">March 2022 Infanta drug seizure</span>

On March 15, 2022, law enforcement agents intercepted three vans in Brgy. Comon, Infanta, Quezon, Philippines, seized ₱11 billion worth of illegal drugs. The operation was described as the "biggest drug haul in Philippine history".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Yang (Chinese businessman)</span> Chinese businessman

Yang Hongming, more commonly known as Michael Yang in the Philippines, is a Chinese businessman and is an associate of 16th Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Yang was linked in the Pharmally scandal which allegedly overpriced procurement contracts for medical supplies to be used by the Philippine government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The drug policy of the Philippines is guided by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and is implemented by the Dangerous Drugs Board with its implementing arm, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency along with other member agencies. Aside from regulating and prohibiting the usage, sale, production of certain drugs, the 2002 law is noted for including policies on drug testing.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Closeup 'Forever Summer' concert tragedy: What we know so far". CNN Philippines . May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Police investigates deaths of 5 individuals in Pasay City concert". CNN Philippines . May 23, 2016. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Drugs? Dehydration? Probe of Pasay concert deaths on". Philippine Daily Inquirer . May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "5 dead at Pasay City concert". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Number of dead in 'Forever Summer' tragedy reaches 5". Coconuts Manila. May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Number of dead in Pasay City concert now 5". GMA News. May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "5 dead after attending Pasay concert". ABS-CBN News . May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Drugs eyed in Pasay concert deaths". ABS-CBN News. May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Torres-Tupas, Tetch; Balagtas See, Aie (May 23, 2016). "2 of 5 concert fatalities died of massive heart attack – NBI". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Teenager's parents to sue 'all' organizers for drug death in Pasay concert". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 6, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Autopsy report: 2 concert-goers died of heart failure, brain injury". The Philippine Star. May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  12. ↑ "NBI: Whatever killed partygoers blew up their heart, organs". Philippine Daily Inquirer . May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  13. ↑ Adel, Rosette (June 7, 2016). "PNP: 2 victims in concert party took drugs, alcohol". The Philippine Star . Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  14. ↑ Geducos, Argyll Cyrus (May 28, 2016). "NBI nabs party drugs seller in Close Up concert". Manila Bulletin . Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  15. ↑ Cepeda, Mara (May 28, 2016). "NBI nabs alleged drug dealer at Closeup concert". Rappler . Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  16. ↑ Torres-Tupas, Tetch. "NBI nabs 5 suspected drug peddlers at CloseUp concert". newsinfo.inquirer.net. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  17. 1 2 Capistrano, Zea Io Ming C. (May 26, 2016). "Duterte blames failed law enforcement in concert tragedy". Davao Today. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  18. ↑ Corrales, Nestor (May 23, 2016). "Outdoor dance parties must be strictly regulated to avoid tragedies - Duterte". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Summer Rave Party aftermath: Sotto wants PDEA, DDB to probe use of 'laughing gas' among youth". Politiko. May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  20. ↑ Reformina, I. (February 1, 2017). "Close-up, Unilever execs, organizers face raps over Pasay concert deaths". ABS-CBN News . Retrieved February 7, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.