ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Four persons were killed as a 6-wheeler truck lost control and rammed into a highway boulder Monday evening at Brgy. Puerto Princesa, Barotac Viejo town in Iloilo.
Barotac Viejo Police identified the fatalities as Franklin Jamillarin, 18, of Brgy. Bangac, Mina, Iloilo; Jose Peñaflorida, Raul dela Cruz, Sr., 45, of Brgy. Bugnay, Barotac Viejo; and Richard Consumo, Jr., 28, of Mina town.
Those injured were Delmar Allanza, 19; Jonel dela Cruz, 19; Frankee Jamillarin, 16; Tito Basios; Joey Casipi, 16; Jonel Casipe; and truck driver Rolando Doquila, 45—all residents of Mina town.
The wounded victims were initially brought to the Ramon Tugbang District Hospital and the Barotac Viejo District Hospital.
Some of them were later transferred to the West Visayas State University Medical Center and the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City while others were treated at Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town.
The truck (with plate no. FDL904), owned by former Mayor Rey Grabato of Mina, was carrying the victims and 310 sacks of palay. It came from Lemery town and was on its way to Mina when the incident happened.
According to Doquila, the vehicle’s brake had malfunctioned while they were traversing the downhill portion of the highway.
To prevent the vehicle from colliding into another vehicle or person, he decided to ram it into the boulder, but then the truck turned turtle as a result and the sacks of palay fell over the victims. (FREEMAN)