Road mishap kills 3, hurts 53

CEBU, Philippines - Three people died 36 others were injured when a bus and a Toyota sedan collided yesterday dawn at the national highway in Barangay Dakit, Bogo City.

The fatalities were identified as Juan Baydal, 50; Roy Tampus, 37; and Dennis Gasig, 36, all residents of San Remigio.

The three were among the 53 passengers of Cebu Autobus driven by Aldrin Presbitero, 43. The bus was negotiating a narrow road in Barangay Dakit on its way to Cebu City when it collided with the Toyota Altis driven by Jose Rosacena, 39, bound for Daanbantayan.

Presbitero is now detained at the Bogo Police Station while Rosacena is currently confined in the hospital.

SPO3 Rogel Alayson, traffic investigator, said that one of the tires of the Autobus exploded causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The bus hit a concrete waiting shed then on the trees before it finally stopped in a sugarcane plantation.

The injured victims were rushed to the Bogo District Hospital. Four of them were referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Initial investigation shows that Rosacena was at fault because he encroached the center line of the highway. Presbitero, on the other hand, was driving on a normal speed as claimed by his passengers.

The injured passengers are Ramil Montillana, 37; Crisanto Galarde, 38; Ronnie Lumungsod, 26; Judy Marie Masbate, 10; Dernene Masbate, 39; Jonathan Masbate, 32; Rolando Paclipan, 60; Amelito Rabadon, 43; Jonie Galcip, 33; Rebeca Mabotol, 36; Wilfreda Pusa, 62; Rogelio Diaz, 41; Marlito Alburo, 38; Renie Beraces, 53; Agelito Dulog, 20; and Reynaldo Lacio, 45, all from San Remigio.

The rest of the victims are Felix Dentulan, 43; Aulenio Leguito, 57; Honey Lepon, 33; Roberto Ison, 42; Tomas Fuentes, 51; Julita Arcabal, 62; Romeo Feliciano, 50; Ian Mark Solon, 22; Sherwin Miscala, 14; Noel Galinsuga, 44; Nobempor Elemban, 33; Edison Lasdoce, 26; Felicito Pianar,31; Judie Pianar, 21; Reynaldo Beraces, 44; Rogelio Ortega, 37, also from San Remigio and Nilo Ylanan, 36, and Manuel Jumao-as, 24, both from Bogo City. 

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 director Ahmed Cuizon said that all of the victims will be given financial assistance by the insurance company.  Cuizon said he has already informed the Passenger Accident Management and Insurance (PAMI) Agency about the recent accident.

Cuizon said that PAMI agreed to give financial assistance to all the victims.

The family of the three passengers who died because of the accident will receive the first half of the P75,000 insurance while those who were injured will also receive the first half of the P15,000 insurance benefit.

The remaining 50% will be released as soon as the documentary requirements are submitted to PAMI.

Cuizon said that the financial assistance might be released today or tomorrow. Cuizon has summoned the management of the Autobus to explain why the operation of the seven other buses under the same franchise should not be suspended following the accident. —FPL (FREEMAN)