5 hurt as SUV slams into ‘kuliglig’

MANILA, Philippines - Five people were seriously injured when a sport utility vehicle rear-ended a “kuliglig” transporting vegetables along Roxas Boulevard in Manila at past midnight yesterday.

Kuliglig driver Geronimo Jaligui; Ruth Jarabe, 30; Rosalyn Reyes, 19; Imelda Garcia, 56; and Jona Dumlao, 15, were brought to the Philippine General Hospital and Ospital ng Maynila, where they remain confined, Senior Policer Officer 1 German Sainz said.

The victims bought vegetables in Divisoria and the kuliglig – a makeshift tricycle often used to transport goods – was traversing the boulevard’s southbound lane when a black Toyota Land Cruiser (JIX-333) rear-ended it.

“Due to the force of the impact, the kuliglig turned around and simultaneously, its riders and passengers were thrown (from the) vehicle and landed on the pavement,” Sainz said.

The vegetables the victims bought were scattered on the road.

The driver of the Cruiser abandoned the vehicle. Investigators have yet to establish the driver’s identity but a ticket found in the Cruiser bore the name of Hong Ji Xiang.

Police officers at the scene said these makeshift tricycles are banned from major roads. They said that since a kuliglig has neither headlight nor taillight, such vehicles pose a danger to motorists.