41 injured as mini-bus plunges into Cebu ravine

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Forty-one people, mostly children, were injured after a mini-bus bringing them to a seminar plunged into a ravine in Barangay Quiot here yesterday morning.

Driver Cristiniano Palabrica, 44, who also sustained minor cuts and bruises in the arm and face, is now in police custody.

Palabrica was maneuvering an uphill portion of a road in San Carlos Heights when he lost control of the mini-bus, a Mitsubishi Canter.

The vehicle, owned by Barangay Basak-Pardo, moved backwards, hit a riprap, and finally fell into the 15-foot ravine at around 9 a.m. yesterday.

One of the survivors, Basak-Pardo councilman Ivy Pacaña, said 28 of the passengers were children aged 12 to 16 who were supposed to attend a self-esteem development seminar at a retreat house until 5 p.m.

At least 37 of the passengers, who suffered bruises and minor fractures, were rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center. Four of them were admitted to the hospital while the others were later released as outpatients.

Pacaña recalled that when they were about to move uphill, they told Palabrica to maneuver the vehicle himself while the passengers disembark and just walk the uphill portion.

However, Palabrica reportedly replied that he could manage, and shortly after, the accident happened, Pacaña said.

Palabrica, in an interview, admitted being at fault, saying he could no longer change his mind as the vehicle was already moving uphill.

Palabrica defended himself, saying he was not pushing his luck then, as his wife and two daughters aged 11 and 13 were among the passengers and were injured, too.

A case of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to property is being readied against Palabrica.

In a related development, 20 people, including 14 teachers and four elementary pupils, suffered injuries when their jeepney fell into a ditch in Silay City, Negros Occidental last Monday afternoon, police said.

Investigation showed the jeepney driven by Danilo Nocon, 48, was heading west of the curved portion on Hacienda Daginding Road in Barangay Rizal, Silay City when its steering wheel malfunctioned, sending the vehicle swerving to the right and plunging into the ditch. – Freeman/With Danny Dangcalan