Survivors of Barili accident offer mass

CEBU, Philippines - Survivors of the tragic road incident in Barangay Balao, Barili last August yesterday offered a thanksgiving mass to those who helped save their lives.

Fr. Dennis Boltron, parochial vicar at the St. Anne’s Parish Church in Barili, officiated the mass at a chapel in the mountain barangay of Kangdampas. The mass was also attended by families of those who perished in the incident.

Boltron who also officiated the mass during the burial of the 10 victims emphasized in his homily the importance of being grateful to God for not leaving the survivors during and after the accident.

“The Divine intervention was really present and even now ang lihok sa Ginoo gipadayag diha sa katawhan pinaagi sa pagtabang. Dili gyud nato kalimtan ang nagtabang kay instrumento na sila sa Ginoo tungod sa maong hitabo nga wala nato damha nga mahitabo,” Boltron said.

He also asked those present during the mass to stop blaming anyone of the accident.

“Healing is a process,” Boltron said.

Despite these words, Barili Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia told reporters that had Mayor Teresito Mariñas heeded their call to have all municipal vehicles inventoried and checked months before the incident, the tragedy would have been prevented.

Garcia said Mariñas ordered the property custodian not to follow the resolution passed by the Municipal Council to this effect.

Third District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, brother of Marlon, who personally attended to the patients earlier, also attended the mass yesterday. He assured continued assistance for the medication expenses of the victims. He said each family that lost a loved one will get a scholarship from him.

“Pinakapait nga gidangatan, kung wa pa si Congressman PJ ug si Gov. Gwen, namatay na seguro ko,” said Marino Angana, a councilman of Barangay Kangdampas. A teary-eyed Rosemarie Ipis also said, “kung wala pa sila, putol na seguro ako tiil.”

Twelve people on their way to a funeral died and 59 were injured when the municipal-owned dump truck were on overturned last August 18. The road accident killed eight passengers instantly; four died in the hospitals.

The dump truck was transporting more than 60 people and a coffin to a funeral mass in Poblacion when the accident happened. — (FREEMAN)