Two children die in separate accidents

CEBU, Philippines - A five-month-old girl died while 12 others were injured in a vehicular accident early morning yesterday on the national highway of Barangay 2, Tuburan town.

The victims were onboard a private van bearing plate number GTH 340 and heading towards Bogo City to attend a fiesta celebration when they hit an Isuzu Forward truck (YCC 535) parked along the road.

Due to the strong impact, Kish Andrei Compacion suffered severe injuries which caused her death.

The other passengers who sustained injuries are Melito Sonido, 54; Nida Saludar, 55; Leonisa Milmil, 62; John David Presbitero, 5; Esteban Presbitero, 62; Lenbert Sungkip, 23; Siara Nicole Punduyo, 5; Matt Nathaniel Compacion, 3; Joan Presbetiro, 33; Letecia España, 46, all from Asturias town  and April Sungkip, 24; and Richard Compacion, 24, both from Balamban town.

They were taken to the Tuburan District Hospital but, Sonido and Saludar were referred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further medical attention.

PO1 Jezrel Perigo, desk officer, said relatives were travelling as early as 6:00a.m. from Balamban to Bogo City at that time.

The van was driven by Richard and beside him was his wife, Geneveive Compacion, 24, who held their daughter, Kish Andrei.

Investigation of the police revealed that Richard was traveling at a high speed when they suddenly hit the truck parked along the road by the driver, Ronilo Nuñez Martinquilla, 42, of Barangay 2.

“Wala niya maklaro ang naka-park nga sakyanan kay sulaw unya foggy ang windshield. (He did not see the parked vehicle because it was too bright and his windshield was foggy),” Perigo said in a phone interview.

Martinquilla was diluting engine oil when he heard a loud crash and went to check what happened.

Perigo said both vehicles are now in their custody for investigation.

“Ang driver (Richard) nag-asikaso sa bata wala lang una namo gi-hold. (We did not detain the driver yet because he was still attending to his daughter),” Perigo said.

Meanwhile, a four-year-old boy died after he reportedly fell into a septic tank in Barangay Azucena, Barili town Sunday morning.

Jay Homer Villafuerte was last seen around 10:00a.m. before he was reportedly lost an hour later.

Investigation conducted by SPO2 Marcelo Quevedo Jr., investigator, disclosed that the family of Jay Homer searched for the boy at around 11:00a.m. when they noticed his disappearance.  It was around 4:45p.m. when they found him in a manhole which served as a septic tank owned by their relative, Miguel Villafuerte, 29, with live-in partner.

The boy was no longer taken to the hospital.

The manhole was reportedly covered with wood slabs but on Sunday, the wood slabs were removed by victim’s mother, Ma. Luz, because she used it in their water tubs.

Police are investigating if there was foul play behind Jay Homer’s death. They are also checking if Miguel has liabilities on the incident.

The victim’s remains will be brought to Tupas Funeral Parlor in Carcar City for autopsy. —/MIT (FREEMAN)