3 offices to expedite probe of boy’s death

THE Mandaue City Government has assigned three legal offices to lead and coordinate the ongoing investigation into the tragic death of a six-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a falling palm tree in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia on April 1, 2025. City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan said in an interview on Monday, April 14, that the offices involved in the probe include lawyers from the mayor’s office, the City Legal Office and the Office of the City Administrator. The investigation began shortly after the incident occurred.

The inquiry also includes the participation of City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) head Buddy Ybañez, who reportedly received a formal request to remove the tree months before the incident but allegedly failed to act on it. The designation of three legal offices is intended to streamline the fact-finding process and ensure that the results are released as efficiently and accurately as possible. On April 1, six-year-old Christian “Yantoy” Quilaton Jr.



died after a decaying palm tree — locally known as a “buli” — collapsed and struck him while he was playing near the roadside along A.C. Cortes Ave.

in Barangay Ibabao-Estancia. Months before the incident, concerned residents had already reported the tree’s deteriorating condition. A formal request to cut down the leaning and decayed tree was filed with the Mandaue City’s CDRRMO in November 2024, but no action was taken.

Possible outsourcing In the wake of the tragedy, the Mandaue City Government launched an investigation to determine who should be held accountable for the failure to act. Officials are also now considering outsourcing tree removal services to third-party contractors to speed up the clearing of potentially dangerous trees and prevent similar incidents in the future. One of the recent developments in the case was the conduct of interviews with several residents of Barangay Ibabao on Friday, April 12.

These interviews are considered crucial to the investigation, particularly in verifying whether there had been prior knowledge or complaints about the condition of the tree. “We’ve already spoken to a number of residents in the area, and right now, we’re in the process of consolidating all the information and testimonies we’ve gathered so far,” Calipayan said. He added that it remains uncertain whether more interviews will be necessary, as the continuation of the process depends on the availability of key witnesses and informants.

Although there is no fixed timeline for the investigation’s completion, Calipayan assured that the team is working to release its recommendations as soon as possible. “We don’t want to rush the process and compromise the quality of the investigation, but at the same time, we’re doing everything we can to move things forward swiftly,” he said. Calipayan also noted that relevant city offices have already started addressing matters that require immediate attention, particularly those concerning public safety, to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

During the City Council’s session on Monday, the committee on CDRRM filed a draft resolution requesting the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office, CDRRMO and the General Services Office to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 to conduct an inspection of trees within Mandaue City’s territorial jurisdiction. / CAV.