33 die as bus falls into ravine

What was supposed to be an uneventful trip to Bicol turned into tragedy when a passenger bus lost its brakes and plunged into a ravine early yesterday morning in Tagkawayan, Quezon province.

Thirty-three people, including the driver, were killed while six others were seriously injured.

Police said the Falcon Liner bus was en route to Masbate when the driver, identified as Norberto Capillanes, a native of Talisay, Camarines Norte, reportedly lost control of the wheel while negotiating a downhill portion of the Quirino Highway in Barangay San Vicente, Tagkawayan.

The bus rammed through the railing and fell into a creek about 30 to 40 feet below.

Authorities said most of the passengers were asleep when the tragedy struck at about 12:30 a.m.

Tagkawayan police deputy director SPO4 Efren Garcia said the brakes of the ill-fated bus, with license plates AVK-125, could have malfunctioned during the 180-kilometer drive from its terminal in Cubao, Quezon City to Tagkawayan.

Quoting survivors’ account of the accident, police Superintendent Efren Castro said, "There was apparently something wrong with the steering wheel and the bus suddenly hurtled downward."

"Many were sleeping. They weren’t able to hold on to anything," Castro said.

One of the survivors, Edwin Fuentes, a 42-year-old soldier from Pilar, Sorsogon, said he saw the driver struggling with the gear stick then applying the brakes, but the bus still gathered speed.

"Suddenly, the bus plunged to the right. I was pinned by cargo boxes and baggage. I could hear shouting and yelling for help. Within minutes, I saw many dead passengers around me," Castro told police probers.

"The rescuers found many of the dead piled in the bus’ front part," Garcia said. He described the scene as "horrible."

Garcia said the impact was so strong the engine at the back of the bus was ripped off. It slid to the front, dragging and pinning to death many passengers, including the driver.

Investigators said 15 of the fatalities were women.

Twenty-two of the dead were identified through IDs found in their belongings as Eleazar Gigante of Makati City; Alexander Rico of San Pedro, Laguna; Andres Tolentino of Trece Martires, Cavite; Jose Evañes Sr. of Magallanes, Masbate; Luterio Quillopas of Malate, Manila; Romulo Adique, Rosalio Adique and Philip Monreal of Oson, Masbate; Rudy Lopez, Elsie Sy, Virginia Laureo, Amada and Lando Adecer, all of Aroroy, Masbate;

Arturo Rocero and Josefa Dejusis of Monreal, Masbate; Jeffrey Nagdael of Pamplona, Las Piñas City; Lucy Pilalan Milagros, Masbate; Teddy Dimabasa of Novaliches, Quezon City; Yolanda Lopera of Cubao, Quezon City; Policarpio Camaso Jr. and Bonifacio Camaso of Palanan, Masbate; and Naning Esparilla, address unknown.

Ten of the bodies were taken to the Rofiles funeral parlor in Barangay Sta. Cecilia in Tagkawayan while the 23 others were brought to the Crystal funeral homes at the Tagkawayan town proper.

Two other survivors were identified as Freddie Lorica of Parañaque City and a certain Onofre.

Police said two of the survivors were children whose identities have not been established.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Rosales, outgoing Quezon police director, said local villagers assisted the police in securing and retrieving valuables belonging to the victims.

Tagkawayan Mayor Eleazar Salumbides also responded to the accident site to supervise rescue and recovery operations.

Rescuers had difficulty pulling the dead and the wounded from the wreckage as many of them were pinned in their seats by twisted metal.

Authorities were still waiting for relatives to identify and claim the remains of the other fatalities. — With Non Alquitran, Christina Mendez, Ed Amoroso