CEBU, Philippines - Ten people were injured after falling off a mini dump truck in the southwestern town of Badian last Tuesday afternoon.
Badian Police chief Sr. Insp. Almirante Bacayo said the incident happened at the border of Barangay Tubod and Barangay Banhigan.
The 10 people fell off the truck when the iron bar that served as a lock of sorts got detached. Those who were seated near the iron bar at the rear part of the truck were the ones who fell off the truck.
“Tungod tingale sa kadaghan sa sakay wa na mabantayi nga naduot tingale ang iron tube,” Bacayo said.
The Elf truck with plate number SGC-884 was ferrying 40 passengers at that time. The passengers came from an internment in Barangay Tubod. The truck is owned by the municipality and was being driven by Jose Dianon.
The other passengers were the ones who rescued the victims and used the same truck to bring them to the Badian Hospital.
The 10 injured were Cirilo Ramos, 41; Grace Ambrad, 20; Angelina Purgatorio, 41; a two-month-old baby, Jerwin Commision; Felipe Cabungcag, 23; Carl Vincent Ambrad, 8; Silvestra Rotaquio, 49; Maylen Velarde, 28; Agustina Santianez, 50 and Maria Magbanwa, 30. They are all residents of Barangay Candiis.
Ramos, Ambrad, Purgatorio and Commision had to be referred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further medication.
“Pasalamat lang gyud ta nga way nagsunod nga sakyanan labi na bus kay mas dako ang problema kung ugaling naa,” Bacayo said.
Bacayo said no one admitted accidentally pushing the iron lock.
Last year, a memorandum was passed prohibiting the use of dump trucks in transporting passengers especially in mountain areas in order to avoid accidents.
The Freeman tried to get the statement of Badian Mayor Robburt Librando but the mayor was reportedly out of the town attending to some important matters. – (FREEMAN)