14 dead as bus falls into a ravine in Mt. Province

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Fourteen people, including two foreign tourists and a famous comedian, were killed after a passenger bus from Manila fell into a 120-meter ravine along the Banaue-Bontoc Road in sitio Paggang, Barangay Talubin in Bontoc town on Friday morning.

Among the fatalities was Arvin Jimenez, also known as "Tado" in the entertainment industry. The two foreign victims were identified as Canadian national Alex Acres Loring and Dutch Anne Van de Van from The Netherlands.

The other identified fatalities were Marcial Bernard Jr., Andrew David Sicam, Natividad Ngawa, Gerald Baja and Ana Alaba. Six others were still unidentified as of this posting.

Police reported that a Florida (TXT 872) passenger bus, carrying more than 40 people, was negotiating a difficult part of the road in Bontoc town, near the boundary of Ifugao and Mountain Province when it plunged into the ravine.

The bus came from its terminal in Sampaloc, Manila. The accident happened at around 7:20 a.m.

Another foreigner Dutch Annenwik Verwegen was rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital.

The other injured victims were identified as Alexander Longadey, 42; Aloy Atin, 24; James Papsao, 38; Carina Javier, 38; Basilan Miluardo Baranhuat, 43; Abegail Sicam; Edgar Ramon, 30; Robert Conrado, 45; Natty Bang-I, 57; Kristina de Leon; Christian Cavardo, 34; Bernard Burnhard, 25; Camille Osorio, 28; Melchor Suagen, 22; a certain Cudiamat, 27; Teresita Sawad, 51; Silvestre Dawey,22; Agung Sicam, 7; Jerymiah Agnapan, 34; Winslaw Carino, 30; Michelle Legrito, 27; don Chavez, 30; Jason Melchor, 38; Charlie Sta Maria, 32; Peng Cordove, 32; Olivia Aglipay, 27; a certain Ammik, 32; Estrella Embede; Demetria Danilo; and Christian Sebrevilla.

Supt. Ramir Saculles, Mt. Province deputy police director for Operations, said that most of the recovered bodies were mutilated due to the impact of the crash.

Saculles said that there is a possibility that the driver of the bus dosed off. He also mentioned that mechanical trouble could have also caused the accident.

Mt. Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen assured that the local government will do its best to be able to provide the needs of the victims.