2 hurt as car falls into canal

TUGUEGARAO CITY , Philippines  – Two government employees from Ifugao province were injured after a sport utility vehicle fell into a canal in Ramon, Isabela over the weekend, police reported yesterday.

The driver identified as Reychell Butac, 49, and his companion, Dever Bellie, 28, reportedly tested positive for alcohol, said Chief Inspector Juancho Alobba, town police chief.

Alobba said Butac was not authorized to drive the vehicle, which is registered under the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Butac and Bellie were employees of the NIA office at Alfonso Lista town in Ifugao.

The vehicle reportedly crashed into the railings before it fell into a canal at around 2:30 a.m. in Barangay Ambatali.