Lawmaker hurt in road mishap

TAGKAWAYAN, Quezon, Philippines – A party-list congressman and three of his family members were hurt when the vehicle they were riding fell into a shallow ravine along Maharlika Highway in Pagbilao town yesterday.

COOP-NATTCO party-list Rep. Anthony Miranda Bravo; his wife Nellene, 49; and children Neil Anthony, 15, and Kenneth Johnric, 11, were taken to a nearby hospital.

Initial reports said the victims suffered minor injuries.

A police report said Bravo, who was driving the Ford Everest (WXO-408), lost control of the SUV when he tried to avoid an approaching vehicle that veered into his lane as he was negotiating a curve.

Commuters and motorists were stuck in traffic until the tree that the vehicle hit had been cleared.

Meanwhile, traffic was snarled for more than 10 hours yesterday when a 10-wheeler truck developed engine trouble along Quirino Highway, also in this town.

In a phone interview, district engineer Rudy Angulo said the traffic jam started at around 2 a.m.

Tagkawayan police chief Senior Inspector Reynaldo Reyes said repair works along the highway also contributed to the gridlock.