Camarines mayor killed, 6 hurt in road accident

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines – The mayor of Pili, Camarines Sur was killed while six others sustained injuries when the sports utility vehicle they were riding in collided with a passenger bus in Gumaca, Quezon Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Chief Inspector Giovanni Caliao, Gumaca police chief, said the road accident left Mayor Alexis San Luis, 57, dead and the following injured: San Luis’ wife Leda, 57; their companions Lilia de los Santos, 53; Gloria Baldon, 53; Fel Salvino, 72; and driver Orlando Bigay, 53; and bystander Reynante Aguila, 24.

Police said San Luis’ group was on its way to Bicol from Manila on board a Ford Everest when they met the tragedy along the Maharlika Highway, as the car collided with a Cagsawa bus in Barangay Rosario, Gumaca town at around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Investigators said the Manila-bound bus, driven by Jesus Escoto, 56, allegedly overtook a vehicle and subsequently rammed into San Luis’ vehicle on the opposite lane.

San Luis and his companions were rushed to the Lucena City General Hospital where the mayor died the next day.

Escoto is now detained at the Gumaca police station while charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple injuries and damage to properties are being readied against him.

Camarines Sur mayors’ league president Tirso Simbulan of Nabua town said their group has extended the necessary help to the families of the victims.

He said they are preparing a tribute to San Luis where they will pay their last respects to him. 

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, chairman of the League of Cities-Bicol chapter, said their group is formally sending a message of condolences to San Luis’ family.

Meanwhile, Blandino Maceda, Bicol director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said they would immediately swear in the Pili town vice mayor as the new mayor and the top-ranked councilor as vice mayor. – With Ed Amoroso and Cet Dematera