14 teachers hurt in Palawan road mishap

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – Fourteen teachers scheduled to attend a management seminar and part of the contingents to the Palarong Pambansa in Palawan sustained injuries when the bus they were riding fell into a shallow canal in Roxas town yesterday morning, police said.

Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, police director of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) of Region 4-B, identified some of the victims as Norlita Bulaklak, Jertrudes Malabanan, Maria Rosadel Quibal, Orly Esguerra, Magai Peras and Orlinda Macalintal, all from Batangas. 

Also hurt were teachers Dindo Asibuque of Puerto Princesa, Jocelyn de la Cruz of Manila, Ligaya Silang of Laguna, Elsie Atienza, Tess Valdez, Severina Ramos, Rufino Castillo, Antonio Ilagan, and the bus conductor.

The victims were brought to the Palawan Medical Mission Group Cooperative Hospital in Puerto Princesa City for treatment. No one was reported in critical condition, police said. 

A report said the teachers were en route to El Nido town on board a Sweety bus when they met the accident along the national highway in Barangay Tinitian, Roxas town at around 3 a.m. 

Police said the bus driver, Roger Rapilla, could have dozed off while driving, sending the vehicle into the canal where it lay on one side.

Superintendent Emma Bautista, of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Batangas, said the teachers were to attend a management and planning seminar in El Nido.

Bautista was the one who called the PNP Patrol 117 for police and medical assistance.

Dr. Vivencio Mendoza, of the DepEd’s Batangas office, clarified earlier reports that the teachers were on a “sidetrip” to El Nido while attending the Palarong Pambansa. 

Mendoza said some of the teachers were official delegates to the nationwide sports meet while the others were there only to take part in the seminar.

Mendoza said the bus was carrying 45 people, including school principals, district supervisors and division supervisors from Batangas and DepEd officials from the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). – With Non Alquitran and Sheila Crisostomo