6 military doctors hurt in Davao road mishap

MANILA, Philippines - A six-man medical team deployed to assist thousands of evacuees in Davao region were seriously injured a road mishap along the storm-ravaged Baganga highway in Davao Oriental provinces on Tuesday afternoon, the military said.

Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman of the 10th Infantry Division, said th government doctors sustained major head and body injuries after their Mitsibushi Pajero slammed into a roadside tree in Barangay Lucud at about 4:15 p.m. the other day.

Paniza identified the victims as doctors Nic Cantiro, Almatin Dimaucom, Nor-ayin Salic, Junnah Mangacy, Grace Espinosa, Taher Salaik, and the driver of ill-fated vehicle, Tuy Pangilan.

The seven were initially evacuated to the Cateel District Hospital but were transferred Wednesday to the Southern Philipines Medical Center Center in Mawab, Compostela Valley for further medical treatment.

The group just came from the incident command post (ICP) in Barangay Lucod in Baganga, where they attended to the medical needs of the evacuees displaced by typhoon Pablo that hit ravaged the area last December 4.

Initial investigation showed that Pangilan tried to avoid hitting an incoming motorcycle, hitting a tree at the side of the highway.

“While Dr. Salik is now stable, the rest are still in critical condition,” Paniza said. — Jaime Laude