10 jeepney passengers hurt as road collapses

MANILA, Philippines - At least 10 people sustained injuries when a passenger jeepney fell off a newly constructed road that collapsed due to heavy rains in Antipolo City yesterday, authorities said.

Superintendent Rodino Elfa, Antipolo City police chief, identified six of those injured as Crisandro Bolivar, Leopoldo Mabasante, Paul Jorge, Sherwin Francisco, Cleo Anacio, and Benjamin Ong.

The driver of the passenger jeepney, Danilo Mahait, 49, was unhurt.

Elfa said the passenger jeepney, en route to Baras town, was cruising Marcos Highway when a portion of the road in Sitio Calumpang, Barangay San Jose collapsed at around 1 a.m. yesterday.

The vehicle fell at least 15 feet but luckily the passengers suffered only bruises and minor injuries, said Elfa, who along with barangay chairman Puto Layva, rushed to the site to conduct a rescue operation.

The six injured passengers were rushed to the Padilla District Hospital while the four others decided to continue their journey home to Baras without seeking treatment for their injuries, said Elfa.

Local residents blamed poor engineering work on the newly widened road project of Rep. Romeo Acop, for the incident.

Workers rip-rapped both sides of the road and dumped soil on it, but its northern part covered a culvert, preventing water from passing through, the residents claimed.

Because of the heavy downpour, the soil loosened and collapsed at the time the passenger jeepney was passing by, the residents said. – Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ed Amoroso