CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines – Nine people, including four minors aged seven to 14, met their deaths along the Maharlika Highway in Calauag, Quezon yesterday morning when a passenger bus rammed the tricycle they were riding, authorities said.
Police identified the fatalities as tricycle driver Redentor Ingena Obanda, 37, and his passengers Natividad Breva, 51; Federico Ebiernas, 44; Letecia Ebiernas, 43; Jackielyn Casabon, 29; Krizel Pera, 14; Glicel Casabon, 9; Daniela Olanda, 9; and Kathleen Casabon, 7.
Eight of the victims died on the spot, while the last one did not reach the hospital alive.
Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police director, said police are readying charges against Arandia bus driver Albert Palmiano Oli, 32, who gave himself up after the incident.
Chief Inspector Juan Leogo, Calauag police chief, said the bus overtook another passenger bus and smashed into the tricycle on the opposite lane. The tricycle was dragged at least 56 meters away.
In San Mariano, Isabela, meanwhile, 16 passengers, mostly women, of an overloaded jeepney sustained injuries last Saturday when the driver lost control of the vehicle, sending it rolling over.
In Ilocos Sur, two men were killed in separate road accidents in Cabugao and Santa towns last Friday night.
Motorcycle driver Geronimo Sumibcay, 53, lost control of the steering bar and fell on the opposite lane where a dump truck hit him, killing him on the spot, in Barangay Rizal, Cabugao town.
In the second mishap, Perry Baggayan, 27, died when his motorcycle rammed the left bumper of a bus. – With Michelle Zoleta, Alexis Romero