28 hurt as bus falls on its side

CEBU, Philippines - A bus fell on its side early morning yesterday in barangay Pangdan, Naga City, hurting twenty-eight of its 40 passengers.

The injured passengers of the JS Calvo bus were taken to the South General Hospital but were referred to the Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Police identified the injured from Toledo City as Eldory Paran, 25, of barangay Malubog; Roland Vergara, 44, of barangay Das; Alberto Alferez, 48, barangay Bato; Enrico Villaber, 50, of barangay Cantabaco; Clifford Baclaan, 18 and Christian Niel Baclaan, 18 both of barangay Upper Magdugo.

Tomas Cantiveros, 42; Jilson Canillo, 23; Jolan Hontico, 18 and Jerry Cabaña, 26 all of barangay Media Onse.

Rolando Manayo, 44; Allan Lapasigue, 27; Hadji Manalo, 24 and Reynaldo Malinao, 39 all of barangay Sam-ang. Antonio Agustin, 28 and Mario Sedavia, 45 both of barangay Casoy. Guillerma Repdos, 38, barangay Po-og; Josephine Alcueza, 31, barangay Balud and Juanito Ragasajo, 54, barangay Climaco.

Also from Naga City were Athony Quijano, 24, barangay Langtad; Anecito Bastatas Jr, 26; Rita Cantalejo, 39, barangay Pangdan; Rolando Galvez, 42 and Ronald Algalvez, both of barangay Balirong.

Vincent Vargas, 44, and Whoemalaide Vargas, 4 are from Villagonzalo, Cebu City as well as Sergio Gelaria, 44, of Pinamungajan town.

The JS Calvo bus, bearing plate number GWH-240 and driven by George Compasion of barangay Matab-ang, Toledo City reportedly swerved to the left in an attempt to overtake a Canoneo bus which was travelling on the same lane.

PO3 Francisco Codiñera, Naga City traffic investigator, said that Compasion was traveling fast so that he lost control of his vehicle when he tried to round a corner.

Compasion denied overtaking a Canoneo bus adding that the road was wet.

“Wa man pud ko kainom, okay akong tulog pero disgrasya gyud to,” Compasion said.

He said in his 11 years of driving, it was the first time he met an accident.

Supt. Eduardo Saavedra, officer-in-charge of the Naga City Police Station, said as a standard operating procedure, Compasion will have to be detained at the stockade pending charges for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries.