4 dead, 16 hurt as truck falls into ravine

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Four people were killed while 16 others were injured when a wayward truck full of hitchhikers plunged into a 20-meter ravine in South Upi, Maguindanao yesterday afternoon, police said.

The truck, owned by the provincial government of Sultan Kudarat, was en route to Lebak town when its driver, Wilfredo Casumpang, lost control after the brakes malfunctioned, causing the truck to wiggle and eventually fall into the ravine along the Lebak-Cotabato Highway in Barangay Kuya, South Upi town.

Senior Superintendent Marcelo Pintac, Maguindanao police director, identified the four fatalities as Fennie Tecson, Joy-Joy Samillano, and siblings Von and Flordeliza Vinias.

In a similar incident, eight soldiers were wounded after their truck fell into a ravine along the national highway in Barangay Tarinsing, Cordon, Isabela, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Vicente Valdez, spokesman of the Isabela police, identified those wounded as Sgt. Arvid James Malicia, Cpl. James Cristobal, Cpl. Rainier Padilla, Cpl. Jose Beltran, Pfc. Feliciano Tattao, Pfc. Oliver Gabatan, Pfc, Jeffrey Gallena, and Pvt. Renijon Camil.

The victims belong to the Army Reconnaissance Company based in Mangkayan, Benguet.

The soldiers were said to be heading to the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in Gamu, Isabela when they met the tragedy.

The truck driver, Pfc. Jessie Balisalisa, avoided an approaching motorcycle after he overtook another vehicle along the national highway. As a result, the truck rammed a tree before it fell into the ravine.      – With Raymund Catindig