11 dead in Kalinga, Isabela road accidents

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines  – At least 11 people were confirmed dead in two separate road accidents in Kalinga and Isabela over the past two days.

In Tabuk City, the capital of Kalinga, eight passengers were killed while at least 50 others were injured after a Lovely Mae mini-bus they were riding slipped off a bridge and plunged into a 25-foot deep ravine in Barangay Bagumbayan Tuesday afternoon.

Inspector Manolito Miyana of the Tabuk City police identified the fatalities as Christopher Cuesta, 24; Sheinalyn Cauilan, 19; Samson Aw-as, Jojo Bannuya, Yaya Pukyas, Ricardo Tamani, Francis Macley, and Boy Alonday.

Tamani was reportedly an enlisted man of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based in Gamu, Isabela.

Reports said the bus was negotiating a sharp curve leading to a bridge when it suffered mechanical trouble, causing the driver, a certain Joseph Maiyao, to lose control of the steering wheel.

Those injured, some of them reportedly still in unstable condition, were still being treated at the Kalinga provincial hospital in Tabuk as of press time.  

The bus, which plied the Mt. Province-Kalinga mountain route, was reportedly overloaded, as it was carrying 59 passengers or 21 more than its capacity.

The Kalinga tragedy came a day after three persons died while two others were seriously injured when the motorcycles they were riding collided along the national highway in San Manuel, Isabela Monday night.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Aristotle Lunacan, 19, and Gil Bautista, 30.   – With Artemio Dumlao