CEBU, Philippines – Thirteen persons were injured as five vehicles rammed into each other along the national highway in Barangay Inayagan, Naga yesterday morning.
Investigation conducted by the Naga police revealed that the five vehicles were heading towards Minglanilla from the south when the accident occurred.
PO2 Ken Cabrera told The FREEMAN the seeming domino effect started when a Sunrays bus driven by Genaro Gesim hit a Toyota Lite Ace. The massive impact caused the Toyota Lite Ace to turn turtle and hit a Suzuki multi-cab driven by Jesus Requinto. The multi-cab also hit another Suzuki jeepney driven by Tommy Rago Espadilla, which, in turn, hit another multi-cab driven by Rogelio Mañacap.
Those injured were identified as Apple Requinto, Jesus Requinto Jr., Louida Batino, Onasis Batino, Aldin Jay Batino, Delia Bayabas, Jocelyn Alguso, Joven Malinao, Harold Villaros, Dolino Tagnan Naynay, Neil Repunte Villacencio, Alberto Fernandez Cabrera, and Pedro Natad Repunte.
All the victims, including drivers Requinto and Malinao, were brought to the South General Hospital. Gesim, the driver of the Sunrays Bus was brought to the police station.
Meanwhile, in the northern town of Liloan, an employee of a lending company was accidentally hit by a Ceres bus along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion.
Michael Lauron Undalok, a resident of Barangay Gunting, Barili sustained serious physical injuries after he was thrown off his Honda XRM motorcycle around 4am last Tuesday.
PO1 Ronald Rosello of the Liloan Police Station told The FREEMAN the victim was working as a lending collector in Bogo and was on his way to work when the accident occurred.
Based on the investigation, the Ceres bus with plate number GFX-599 driven by Renante Amores was heading towards Cebu City and was tailing another vehicle while Undalok was traveling the opposite lane.
The Ceres bus reportedly overtook the vehicle it was tailing and accidentally hit Undalok.
Rosello said Undalok suffered fractured bones on both legs and was brought to the Eversely Hospital in Jagobiao, Mandaue. He was later transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.
Amores voluntarily surrendered to the police station and is now facing charges. (FREEMAN)