20 killed, 19 hurt in road accidents

MANILA, Philippines - At least 20 people, including two South Koreans, were killed and 19 others were injured in vehicular accidents in the provinces of North Cotabato, Bataan and Quezon in the past two days, authorities said.

Before dawn yesterday, nine passengers of a mini dump truck died on the spot and 17 others sustained injuries when their vehicle plunged into a deep ravine and slammed on a tree in M’lang, North Cotabato.

North Cotabato Gov. Jesus Sacdalan said the victims, mostly members of the Mondragon clan of Matalam town, were on their way to Polomolok, South Cotabato to attend a “pamanhikan” when they met the tragedy.

In Balanga, Bataan, two South Korean production managers and five female employees of a bag exporting firm operating at the Freeport Area of Bataan, formerly the Bataan Economic Zone, in Mariveles town, were killed while two others were seriously injured when their company service car rammed into a passenger bus along the Roman Superhighway in Barangay Duale, Limay town Tuesday night.

Police identified the Korean victims as Warren Shin and SK Joe, who worked for D.I. Dawn Patrol Manufacturing Corp.

A back rider of a motorcycle was among those hurt in the mishap.

Meanwhile in Tayabas, Quezon, a policeman identified as PO1 Joaquin Trinidad and three others were killed when a cargo truck lost its brakes and smashed into a car and another truck. – With Michelle Zoleta, Ramil Bajo, Edith Regalado, Raffy Viray, Ric Sapnu and John Unson