ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - - - A service vehicle, carrying delegates from Sulu province, accidentally plunged into a 10-foot cliff Sunday morning, killing one killed and injuring 13 others in Buug town, Zamboanga Sibugay province, according to authorities.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the victims – seven pupils and six school officials – were on board Suzuki APV van with plate number JDD953 driven by Abdulajid Lukman, 41, with his assistant driver on their way to Marawi City for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletics Association (ARMMAA) when they met the accident along the highway at Barangay Bulaan, Buug town about 10 a.m Sunday.
The victims were also delegates from Pangutaran School district of Sulu, according to Huesca.
Senior Police Officer 1 Dave Ebarle, who was the case investigator, disclosed that the van, which was part of a convoy of other vehicles, was negotiating the curb along the highway when the driver lost control of the steering causing the service van to plunge into the cliff.
“The driver identified died on the spot while the rest of the passengers were hurt and injured,†Ebarle said.
Ebarle said due to the accident the delegation has cancelled its trip to Marawi and were forced returned to the city to attend to the injured victims.
He said two of the victims were in serious conditions as they were immediately rushed to the St. John General Hospital for treatment.
Atty. Jamar Kulayan, ARMM Department of Education (DepEd) regional director, identified the injured school officials as Andan Tammang, technical official; Sitti Ramsani Mahmud, teacher; Nur aina Ramsani, school nurse, Hadji Ayub Ramsani, supervisor; and Abdulajid Lukman; while the pupils were Ferdiliza Ainul, Alhaina Banbon, Marhama Sarri, Ummal Nabri, Sitti Rasma Mahmud, Gerry Hamin, and Arjaida Atiulla.
Kulayan said the DepEd ARMM has paid for all the hospital expenses of the victims while advising the delegates to take caution in traveling toward the venue.