The family of the guest who died in a fun activity in Olango Island visited Police Station 1 in Olango Island to gather documents for the possible filing of a case against the operator of the floating cottage. 

Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Spokesperson, Lt. Col. Christian Torres, confirmed that the family of the 43-year-old woman visited Police Station 1 on August 15, 2024 with their legal counsel to get a copy of the police report.

“Naa pa sila’y certain percentage nga possible nga makig-negotiate pa sa tag-iya sa resort. Pero within this week kondili gyud sila naka-come up og decision, dili gyud sila maka-come up og win-win solution, siguro next, next week possible nga mo-decide na sila kon mo-file sila og kaso or dili,” Police Lt. Col. Torres said. 

The tourist from Cagayan de Oro City tried the “jumping balloon” extreme water activity offered by a floating cottage rental business in Barangay San Vicente, Olango Island on July 11, 2024, but suffered from a bad landing and died days later at the hospital.

Based on the investigation conducted by the Lapu-Lapu City Police, the tourist suffered from a spinal injury because of the impact of her landing on the water balloon. 

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan inspected Pinky’s Floating Cottage on July 21, 2024, and served a cease and desist order. 

The manager of the floating cottage identified only as “Jeng” said she continues to hope for an amicable settlement.

“Ug mo-file og case wala mi mahimo, pero suwayan gyud namo og hangyo gihapon og pwede nga mo-settle lang mi,” Jeng said in a phone interview with GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak. 

“Jeng” said that the family mentioned of a million-peso settlement, but she said she could only afford P500,000 as the floating cottage business has just started operations in May 2024. 

“Ni-chat ko nila paghuman ba to sa lubong…ni-chat ko, then nihangyo lang ko bisan 500 [thousand] nya wala man sila mo-reply,” Jeng added. 

She said that earlier they spent P10,000 as an initial payment for the hospital bills of the tourist. They also spent the expenses for the transport of the tourist from Olango Island to the mainland, and the transfer to a hospital in Cebu City. 

The news team reached for a comment from the lawyer of the family of the tourist, but he declined to issue a statement pending permission from his client.