National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas ordered on Monday a thorough investigation into the tragic accident that killed 13 people, including children, in a road accident in Kalinga on Sunday.
At the same time, Sinas directed the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) local police units to strictly enforce land transportation regulations against overloading and other unsafe driving violations.
Citing reports reaching the PNP Command Center, Sinas said the fatalities drowned inside a Ford Everest with plate number AAK-9180 that fell into an irrigation canal.
Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee, Cordillera police regional director, reported that the accident happened at around 6:15 p.m. on Sunday at Barangay Bulo, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
The vehicle, driven by Soy Lope Agtula, a Bureau of Jail Management personnel, assigned in Bontoc, Mt. Province and a resident of Cagubatan, Tadian, Mt. Province, came from Tadian and was heading for Bulo Lake.
Upon reaching a curved portion of the road, the vehicle, with 14 passengers, seven of them children, slipped and fell into the irrigation canal and submerged.
According to the report, personnel from the 1st Kalinga Provincial Mobile Force Company and civilian volunteers responded to the incident.
Rescuers brought 11 victims to the Mija Kim Medical Center but were pronounced dead upon their arrival, while two others were brought to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital where they were also declared dead.
The fatalities were identified as Agtulao, 36; Judilyn Talawec Dumayom,31; Alfredo Cutit Lope, 59; Remedios Longey Basilio,56; Jessabel Basilio Paycao, 27; Sony Puking Lope, 22; Marlo Gel Perena, 6; Seadarn Talawec Dumayom, 5; Scarlet Basilio Paycao, 3; Jeslyn Talawec Paycao, 4; Cydwin Lope Agtulao, 6; Cyan Lope Agtulao, 4 and Ezverdrick Basilio Paycao, 4.
Two other passengers survived the accident.
Sinas urged motorists to “strictly observe load limits and maximum passenger capacity of motor vehicles, as well as the required physical distancing protocol inside public and private conveyances.”
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