Close-Up, Unilever execs slam complaints over concert deaths

Executives of toothpaste brand Close-Up and its parent company Unilever Philippines on Friday slammed the complaints filed against them by the National Bureau of Investigation and certain individuals over the deadly rave party in Pasay City in May last year. 

Close-Up and Unilever counsel George Aquino said the case should be dismissed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), noting that it was "erroneous" to go after officers of the organization "simply because they are officers without any relation to the event."

Aquino's clients filed their counter affidavits during the second hearing on the DOJ's preliminary investigation into the complaints. The hearing was off-limits to the media. 

"I think its [Unilever’s] reputation speaks for itself and it takes due diligence and care in all its affairs. In other words, it’s unfortunate, they’re families of the people who passed away but maybe, you know, maybe in an effort to try to rectify the error they might be misguided or going after the wrong parties,” Aquino told reporters.

Among those charged by the NBI for criminal negligence in relation to Sections 31 and 45 under Corporation Code of the Philippines were:

• Unilever executive vice president for operations-Southeast Asia Rohit Jawa,
• Unilever Philippines manager for workplace services and facility security Jesus Canlapan,
• Close-Up marketing director Alberto Curnelius Trinidad,
• Baby Majalia Ahamadul, senior accounts manager,
• Activations Advertising Inc., and 
• Alexis Engelberto Aragon, owner, Delirium Manpower Services. 

In its report, the NBI said the organizers "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."

Five people died in the concert, namely, Ken Migawa, 18; Eric Anthony Miller, 33, an American; Ariel Leal, 22; Bianca Fontejon, 18; and Lance Garcia, 32.

The five, who did not know each other, became unconscious while attending the "Forever Summer "open-air concert headlined by Belgian DJ duo Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike which attracted an estimated 14,000 people on May 21, 2016.

Aquino, however, said the complainants failed to "connect the deaths to a certain act or omission” on the part of the respondents. 

"We want (complainants) them to tell us how the death was caused by one particular act and by which particular individual," he said. 

The lawyer said his clients are also victims because they were dragged into the case.

“Our clients are quite confident that they are not guilty of wrongdoing,” Aquino said.

The DOJ will hold another hearing on April 24. —LBG, GMA News