1 dead, 8 hurt as truck falls into ravine

LA TRINIDAD Benguet, Philippines – A construction worker was killed and eight others were injured when the  Isuzu dump truck they were riding fell into a ravine in Sitio Illulan, Poblacion South in Lagawe, Ifugao on Thursday.

 Ben Humiwat, 56, a resident of Barangay Montabiong, Lagawe died on the way to a hospital,  Cordillera police spokesperson Superintendent Cherry Fajardo said.

 Richard Sobrepena, 46, a resident of Latorre North, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, reportedly lost control of the vehicle when its brakes malfunctioned.

 Edwin Baltazar, 52; Jay-ar Moya, 16; Henry Dangon, 39; Kevin Loyd Alvarez, 19; Jomer Mejes, 23; Rennier Dagdag, 22; all from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, and Leopoldo Ong, 27, of San Jose, Del Monte, Bulacan suffered serious injuries and were brought to the Panopdopan District Hospital in Lamut town.

 Only Rodrigo Marcel Villanueva, 24, was unhurt.

Reports said the passengers jumped out of the falling truck. – Artemio Dumlao, Raymund Catindig