Close-up and Unilever executives as well as event and security
organizers of the ill-fated May 2016 "Close-Up Forever Summer" rave party that resulted in the deaths of five individuals were charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday with criminal negligence.

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Charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and private
complainants spouses Edison and Bibiane Fontejon, Gemma L. Miyagawa, and Conrado R. Leal are the following:

-Rojit Jawa, then Unilever Philippines chairman and CEO and currently South East Asia executive vice-president for operations;

-Alberto Curnelius Trinidad, marketing director for Close-Up;

-Joy Dalanon-Ocampo, country manager for safety, health and environment;

-Melissa Alcayaga, procurement manager;

-Bea Lagdameo, Close-Up assistant brand manager;

-Michelle Suzanne Claire Quintana, president and CEO;

-Anna Kristina Doctolero, project manager;

-Baby Majalia Ahamadul, senior accounts manager of Activations
Advertising, Inc.;

-Jesus M. Canlapan, manager for Workplace Services and Facility Security;

-Reginald M. Soriano;

-Eduardo Muego;

-John Paul Demontaño, owner/president of Hyperhouse Production Corp.; and

-Alexis Engelberto Aragon, owner of Delirium Manpower Services.

The incident took place at the Mall of Asia Arena parking lot in Pasay City, where, in the early hours of May 22, 2016 party attendees Ariel D. Leal, 22; Lance F. Garcia, 36; Ken Miyagawa, 18; Bianca Fontejon, 18; and Eric Anthony Miller, 33, an American citizen, were found unconscious and later pronounced dead.

Only the relatives of Fontejon, Miyagawa and Leal sought the intervention of the NBI for an investigation into the incident.

The fatalities were later found to have "dangerous drugs metabolites" upon examination.

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"The proximate cause of the death of Fontejon, Miyagawa and Lela is attributable to the inexcusable lack of foresight in failing to perform an act anticipatory that illegal drugs [were] so prevalent in a rave party to the effect that given the highest educational and scholastic attainment, professional achievement and degree of occupation as well as their intelligence, the event's master security and safety plan is silent and muted about illegal drugs…

"The above-mentioned respondents from Unilever-Close-Up, Activation Advertising and the others appear to be criminally liable based on the responsible officer doctrine for they 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," the complaint read.