Nurse dies in fall from ambulance

CEBU, Philippines - It was a freak accident probably unimaginable, but it did happen.

A Filipino nurse based in Singapore died when a team transporting a patient to the airport ended up taking another ambulance back to the hospital after the one they were riding was hit by a pick-up at corner M. J. Cuenco and Juan Luna Ave., Mabolo, Cebu City late the other night.

The nurse fell of the ambulance that rolled on its side. She died due to severe head injuries.

The patient, who was supposed to be transported to the airport for airlift to Singapore, was brought back to Chong Hua Hospital.

The fatality was identified as Trecie Abaño, 44, a native of Bislig, Surigao del Sur. 

The impact of the collision caused the ambulance of Chong Hua Hospital to fall on its side and roll a few times causing Abaño to fall off the vehicle. She was dead on the spot.

The patient, Michael Jasmin, 37, of San Diego, California, was rushed back to the hospital by responding paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) and was brought to the intensive care unit of Chong Hua Hospital. 

It was not known if his admission into the ICU was due to injuries sustained during the accident or due to the ailment that he was already suffering.

The ambulance driver, Juan Cabigas, a resident of Barangay Labangon, this city, was also brought to the hospital along with the others in the ill-fated vehicle. They were identified as Ma Si Chong, 37 and Datukon Sayyio Ronron, 28, both from Singapore City; Milan Lester Nengasca, 25, of B. Rodriguez Street; and Roy Jumao-as, 25, of Nivel Hills, Barangay Lahug.

Except for Chong, the others were confined at the hospital due to the bruises that they sustained.

Positive for alcohol

Noel Anthony Logarta, 20, of Mountain View Village, Quiot, Cebu City, the driver of the Toyota Hi-lux with plate number YHK-500 was found positive for alcohol when he underwent a liquor test at the Cebu City Medical Center.

He was with a companion during the incident. They both sustained minor injuries.

Logarta is now detained at the stockade of the Traffic Division of the Cebu City Police Office.

SPO4 Nelson Jayme, lead traffic investigator of the Cebu City Traffic Division said Abaño was part of a team that was to take Jasmin from Chong Hua Hospital to the Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City.

Photos more scandalous than thought

It’s not about bikinis but skimpy dresses, drinking tequila in public places, engaging in sexually suggestive dancing and torrid kissing.

This was the statement of Saint Theresa’s College High School Department’s lawyer Joan Largo yesterday.

Largo also emphasized their defiance of the Temporary Restraining Order issued by Judge Wilfredo Navarro to allow the students to participate in the commencement exercises last March 30, 2012 was right.

“We did the right thing because once the court and the Commission on Human Rights can see all the photographs of the students who were barred from participating of the graduation rights… for me, they can say what the STC did was right,” she told the media.

Largo said they welcome any investigation by the CHR.

“I read on the papers that they filed a complaint before the CHR… we welcome the investigation because what we look for is to protect the dignity of this minors,” she said. (FREEMAN)