15 dead, 1 injured after truck falls off 40-meter ravine

CEBU, Philippines — A truck carrying livestock buyers plunged into a 40-meter deep ravine midday Wednesday in Sitio Tubod, Barangay Bulwang, Mabinay, Negros Oriental, leaving at least 15 passengers dead and two others seriously injured, including the driver.

Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the truck driven by Antonio BoganotanToreno veered off the concrete road before it fell off the cliff.

Polinar said the driver told police investigators that he lost control of the vehicle after its brakes malfunctioned. The victims were allegedly on their way to Dauis, Bayawan City to buy pigs and other farm animals when the incident happened.

In a separate phone interview, Police Major Nelson Lamoco, of the Mabinay Municipal Police Station, said the victims were just renting the truck for their usual errand of buying livestock.

Lamoco identified the fatalities as Ireneo Acabo, Fe Egoogan, Rolindo Decipolo Sr., Jemboy Egoogan, Rolindo Decipolo Jr., Marlon Solidad, Rex Decipolo, Rene Magos, Allan Flores, Allen Pocong, Remond Llenes, Roy Magos, Leo Soreño, Jacob Labrador, and Almar Gargoles.

Aside from the driver, the other person injured was identified as Jovanni Timtim. All 17 passengers were residents of La Libertad Negros Oriental.

Lamoco said 14 of the victims died on the spot while one died at the Bais City Hospital. Lamoco said the driver will face a criminal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide. — FPL (FREEMAN)