ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Seven Marines were injured when their truck fell into a canal in Maluso, Basilan on Wednesday afternoon.
The troopers, who belong to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11, were headed for Sumisip town from Isabela City when they figured in the accident at past 2 p.m. in Barangay Abong-abong, Navy Captain Roy Vincent Trinidad, deputy chief of the Joint Task Force Zambasulta, said.
Trinidad said the driver, who was among the injured, lost control of the wheel as the truck was traveling along the provincial circumferential road.
The Marines were airlifted to a military hospital in this city for treatment. Their names were withheld until after their families are notified.
Meanwhile, three persons died in separate vehicular accidents in the Cordilleras on Wednesday morning.
Mhorvelle Buyaco, 18, died at the scene, while his passenger Analyn Binwag was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after their motorcycle collided with a dump truck in Barangay Cudog, Lagawe in Ifugao at around 10 a.m.
Truck driver John Mark Hangdaan surrendered to the police.
Four hours earlier, Alfredo Sotelo died while being rushed to a hospital after his motorcycle collided with a dump truck in Barangay Camp 4, Tuba in Benguet.
Investigation showed Sotelo tried to overtake another vehicle, causing his motorcycle to slam into a truck driven by Henry Moguil, 58.
Moguil surrendered to the authorities. He claimed he was able to step on the brakes, but it was too late to avoid the motorcycle. – With Alexis Romero, Artemio Dumlao