Principal killed in road mishap

CEBU, Philippines – A private school principal died while her husband is in critical condition after a school bus bumped the motorcycle they were riding past 6 a.m. yesterday in Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City.

Solidad Aliño was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City. Her husband, Eleuterio, was transported to Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City because of the severe injuries he sustained from the accident.

School bus driver Catalino Manayaga Jr., 46, was immediately arrested after the incident and is now detained at the Carcar City Police Station.

The Aliños were traversing the national highway on their way to Carcar Academy in Cogon, Poblacion I, where Solidad is the principal, when their motorcycle was hit by the Saint Catherine’s College school bus as it overtook a passenger bus.

Police Officer 2 Camia Codo, desk officer of Carcar City Police Station, said that because of the impact the school principal was thrown off the motorcycle.

Sosima Ibona, cashier at Carcar Academy, said that every morning the principal would hear mass at the Theotokos Shrine in Barangay Perrelos before reporting to school.

Carcar Academy was supposed to open its intramurals yesterday morning but was cancelled upon learning the teacher’s death.

The students and the faculty and staff offered prayers for the school principal before the students were dismissed.

Ibona said that the school is requesting the family of the victim for a three-day wake at the school to allow students to pay their last respect.

Criminal complaints are now being prepared against the school bus driver. It will, however, depend on the family of the victims if they will press charges. —/FPL (FREEMAN)