Tour bus mishap in Benguet leaves 7 dead

TUBA, Benguet, Philippines – Seven people died and 32 others were injured when their speeding tourist bus crashed into a delivery truck along Marcos Highway here late Thursday.

The fatalities included students Diane Lauria and Princess Pastorpite, teachers Mariel Mingi and Jenny Lantoria, alternate bus driver Leopoldo Nana and tour guide Carlo Boyet Pintor. All died at the scene.

Marvin Talantino suffered multiple injuries and died while being treated at the Baguio General Hospital.

Initial reports said the tourist bus with license plate AFB 769 careened out of control as it negotiated the zigzag portion of the Marcos Highway in Sitio Bontiway and rammed the Baguio-bound 18-wheeler truck (WPG 581) coming from the opposite direction.

Most of the victims were passengers of the tourist bus, students and teachers from Marinduque State College who had just come from a field trip in Baguio City.

Rafael Valencia, one of the first responders on the scene, said the bus overtook another vehicle and swerved, ramming the truck that was on the opposite lane.

One of the survivors, Roselyn Roldan, told investigators that the bus was moving at a fast pace while negotiating the downward zigzag portion of Marcos Highway.

The Tuba town police also confirmed in their initial investigation that the bus driver lost control of the vehicle.

Police said that several accidents have occurred in that section of the road in Barangay Bontiway.

On the other hand, the Marinduque State College said they would assume full responsibility for the accident and assured the victims’ families of assistance.

“We are deeply sorry for what has happened, and right now the school administration is doing all the necessary steps to assume responsibility regarding the incident,” said Ludegario Halos, the school’s vice-president for academic affairs.

Halos said they are proceeding to Baguio City and preparing financial and moral assistance for the victims of the accident.

The students are mostly tourism majors participating in the “Lakbay Aral” educational tour program of the school.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) defended Marinduque State College in its educational tour program, notwithstanding the tragedy.

CHED said the school was found to have observed proper guidelines in the approval of educational tours by its faculty and students.

CHED said its regional office, CHED Regional Office 4-B, has been in close coordination with the school since it was apprised of the accident in Benguet.

“According to the regional office, MSC transmitted their request to the CHED RO last January 2013 for the said educational tour and upon evaluation of the documents submitted, the CHED RO found that the school complied with the necessary documentary requirements as stated in CMO 17, s. 2012,” CHED said in a statement. – Juancho Mahusay, Rainier Allan Ronda