40 hurt as truck plunges into Romblon ravine

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna – At least 40 persons, mostly employees of the Department of Public Work and Highways, were injured when a truck they were riding plunged into a ravine at Barangay Pangulo, Calatrava, Romblon, Wednesday afternoon, said Calatrava Mayor Bong Fabello, who identified three of the victims as Riza Dalisay, Dadoy Sulabo and Noli Familara, employees of the DPWH and natives of Rombon.

According to Police Inspector Raymond Balbuena, chief of Calatrava police station, the DPWH employees had just come from San Agustin to attend a town fiesta and were heading home to Odiongan when they met an accident in Sitio Salingsingan, Barangay Pangulo around 1:30 p.m.

Reports said the driver Nick Andaya, while traversing the rocky provincial road, lost control of the truck’s steering wheels (SBX-726) and fell into a 20-foot ravine.

No one was reported killed or seriously injured in the said accident. However, three of the victims were rushed to Metro Manila hospital while others were treated at Romblon Provincial Hospital.

It was not clear yet if the said trip was official or with the permission of the higher management of the DPWH in Odiongan. – Arnell Ozaeta and Ed Amoroso