Five people, including an American citizen, died after they lost consciousness while attending a jampacked concert Saturday night at an open parking area in Pasay City.
Police identified the fatalities as Eric Anthony Miller, 33, an American; Ariel Leal, 22, of Taft Ave., Manila; Lance Garcia, 36, of Valle Verde, Pasig City; Bianca Fontejon, 18, and Ken Migawa, 18, both residing in Antipolo City, Rizal.
Police Officer 3 Rolando Bantanga of the Pasay City Police Station, investigator on case, said that the victims were among the estimated 14,000 who watched the “Closeup Forever Summer Concert” that began at 3 p.m. Saturday and ended at 3 a.m. Sunday.
Bantanga said that at the height of the concert, the five victims were rushed to two hospitals after they were found unconscious.
He said that Leal, Garcia and Migawa were brought to the San Juan De Dios. Leal and Garcia died before they reached the hospital, while Migawa, who was initially reported in critical condition, eventually died also.
Miller and Fontejon were brought to the Manila Doctors Hospital where they died, police said.
Bantanga said the American Embassy was informed of Miller’s death.
Cause of the deaths is still undetermined and the case is under investigation, National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson Chief Insp. Kimberly Molitas said. Police noted that during the event, concert goers were allowed to buy and drink liquor from different concessionaires in the area.
In a statement, CloseUp expressed its condolences to the families of the persons who died while attending the concert.
“Closeup and its organizing agency, Activations Advertising, and staging agency, Eventscape, are deeply saddened by the events that transpired in the early hours of May 22, 2016.
“We regret that, despite the very stringent measures and precautions we have put in place to ensure the safety and security of all attendees involved, this incident still transpired. As such, strict protocols were followed to immediately provide medical assistance as well as rush all those involved to the nearest hospital where they can receive emergency care,” the statement read.
