3 dead in NLEX mishap

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines -– Three passengers of a Mitsubishi L-300 van were killed when the vehicle rammed a truck parked along the shoulder of the North Luzon Expressway here yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatalities as Cynthia Medina, 49; Consuelo Repollo, 45; and Albert Manalili, 40. Another passenger, Esmeralda Marcelo, 43, was injured and brought to the Bulacan Medical Center here.

Police said the van’s driver, Juanito Ibañez, 50, admitted having fallen asleep, causing the van to ram the truck whose driver, Eric Bactol, made a stop to urinate. Ibañez is now in police custody.