Oceanholic Dive Shop and Piratas Alona Divers, dive shops operating in Panglao were directed to temporarily shut down by Gerry Guidaben, Officer in Charge of the Department of Labor – Bohol Office.

Guidaben gave the order to the two dive shops to cease diving operations pending the conclusion of an investigation on the gruesome death of Dallas Police Officer Hans Adrian Campbell and the injuries sustained by Norman Zheng during a fun dive in the seawaters off Dulho on August 2, 2016.

The cease order was revealed by Guidaben before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee of the whole hearing presided by the tourism committee chairperson Kristine Alexie Tutor on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at the SP conference room.

The temporary closure order from the DOLE stemmed from the discovery that two Spanish dive masters did not possess the necessary Alien Employment Permit (AEP) to work in the country.

Julian Bonilla ug Ivan Serreras, both dive masters of Piratas Alona Divers were conducting a Discover Scuba Diving course in a shallow portion of the Coral Transplantation Rehabilitation site off the seawaters of Barangay Dulho.

A speedboat owned by Oceanholic and manned by Richie Cagandahan sped past the diving area where Campbell and Zheng were underwater hitting both resulting in massive head and body injuries to Campbell and less serious injuries to Zheng.

The speedboat which was later found not registered with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) while Cagandahan is now in the custody of the Panglao Police Station.

Campbell and his fiancee, Chriselyn Bedolido, whose parents are from Tagbilaran City came to the Philippines to exchange wedding vows on August 4, 2016, the day the groom died at the Ramiro Community Hospital due to massive head and body injuries,

Zheng left for the US after recovering from wounds sustained during the freak diving accident.

Homicide charges has been filed against Cagandahan at the Provincial Prosecutors Office by the Panglao Police Station.

Cagandahan is now under custody of the Panglao Police Station and is detained at the police lock-up jail.

The results of the investigation is expected to be released on Friday, August 12, 2016 during the regular session of the SP. (Chito M. Visarra and Rey Tutas)