Vice gov injured, other victim dies at hospital

SIQUIJOR, SIQUIJOR ,Philippines  — Vice Governor Andre Jesus Cortes suffered major injuries and was treated at the Silliman University Medical Center in Dumaguete City after he figured in a collision of motorcycles in this town Thursday last week.

Senior Insp. Benedict Poblete, Siquijor Police chief, said Cortes was on his way home driving his motorcycle that collided with the one driven by Bartolome Ates, a real estate agent from Pangi town of Siquijor.

Poblete said the two were badly injured and were brought first to the Siquijor Provincial Hospital by a private car but were immediately referred to hospitals in Dumaguete where they were rushed via an ambulance rescue boat.

Ates was confined at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital but died a day after reportedly from internal hemorrhage.

Provincial Board Member Arturo Pacatang, who took over as PB presiding officer, said the vice governor was operated on, underwent blood transfusion and is still at the ICU for monitoring of his condition.

The vice governor, according to his eldest daughter Agnes Cortes, is now in stable condition at the hospital’s ICU.

Poblete told The FREEMAN that Ates overtook a truck but saw too late the motorcycle of Cortes coming, failed to use his brakes and lost control of his vehicle, resulting in the collision.

There were unconfirmed reports that the two victims were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident, but Marichel, the surviving wife of Ates, said her husband was a very careful rider and always had a helmet with him.

Marichel, who was with her seven children, thanked the vice governor for assisting in her husband’s medical expenses.