Soldier dead, 5 hurt in Army trucks collision

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  –A soldier was killed while six others were badly injured when two speeding Army trucks collided head on at a national higway in Maguindanao’s Datu Odin Sinsuat town Wednesday.

The fatality, Cpl. Fernan Palos, of an Army mechanized unit based in the second district of Maguindanao, died from severe head injuries.

Five injured companions of Palos, Pfcs, Michael Pamo, Erwin Prepanya, Marlon Ocsiano, Eugene Acaso, And Rommie Sedeño, were rushed to the Camp Siongco Hospital of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in nearby Awang district in Datu Odin Sinsuat.

One of the two trucks rammed a roadside house after the collision, leaving villager Jamar Ulama injured.

Palos and his companions were securing local officials from different towns en route to Camp Siongco to grace the Wednesday’s installation of the 6th ID’s new commander, Major Gen. Ceasar Ronnie Ordoyo.

Ordoyo’s symbolic takeover of the 6th ID’s leadership from Major Gen. Rey Ardo, now commander of the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, was officiated by the chief of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.