5 killed as truck falls into ravine

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Five people on board a dump truck reportedly loaded with undocumented minerals were killed after the vehicle plunged into a ravine in Kayapa town here while on its way to Benguet early yesterday morning.

Police identified four of the victims as Paula Agustin, 59; George Sumera, 28; Melanio Agayan, 39; and Richard Paguio, 37, all residents of Quirino province.

Senior Inspector Jeoffrey Bulong, Kayapa police chief, said the truck loaded with tons of newly extracted ore fell off a cliff in Castillo village in Kayapa.

“The five all died on the spot,” he said.

Reports said authorities were trying to flag down the truck in Aritao town, but the driver ignored this and proceeded instead toward Kayapa, traversing the mountain highway linking this province and Benguet.

In a related development, a wayward dump truck rammed into five vehicles and five motorcycles in Antipolo City, Rizal yesterday, killing one and wounding four others, including the truck driver, police said. – Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Non Alquitran