Five killed, 7 injured as bus collides with FX taxi

CALAMBA CITY — Five people were killed and seven others were critically injured when a Toyota Tamarraw FX taxi collided with a passenger bus along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Tulo here on Sunday.

SPO4 Feliciano Masongsong, Calamba police investigator, identified the fatalities as Feliciana Marasigan, 71; Guillermo Marasigan, 52; Divine Sepe, 52; Francie de la Cruz, 28; and Minerva Castillo, 40; all Quezon City residents.

Their injured companions Adrian Marasigan, 2; Arlan Marasigan, 31; Bayani Marasigan, 53; Oliver and Miriam Marasigan, 31; Joy Claro, 31; and Rowel Delgado were taken to the Calamba Medical Center and other hospitals here.

Investigation showed that the Manila-bound FX taxi was cruising along the Maharlika Highway at about 3:30 p.m on Sunday when it collided head-on with the Quezon-bound Tritran bus, with license plates DV W-584, in Barangay Tulo.

Bus driver Jay Cabangan and his bus conductor Allan Apolinar immediately fled after the incident and are now being hunted by the police. None of the bus passengers were hurt.— With Arnell Ozaeta, Ed Amoroso