Five injured after minibus rams post

CEBU, Philippines - Five persons were injured when a minibus rammed an electric post at the crossing of N. Bacalso Ave. and Salazar St. in Cebu City early morning yesterday.

The minibus (GXR 964), driven by Bienvenido Canedo of Campo 8, Toledo City, was traveling south for Sibonga town when a van-for-hire allegedly cut it off and blocked its path.

Canedo said that to avoid hitting the center island in his effort to steer clear of the van, he swerved right and instead hit an electric post, causing his injury and that of four others.

 Canedo, along with conductor Lito Cabornel, minibus helper Elmaer Antona and Rolando Albano, and passenger Versache Manguhid of Lawaan, Talisay City, was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for treatment.

Canedo said he was just traveling slowly at 25 to 30 kilometers per hour at that time when the van suddenly blocked his path.

“Hinay ra man akong dagan.  Nilikay lang ko sa (I was moving slow. I just tried to avoid hitting the) center island maong diri punta sa poste (which is why I ended up hitting the post instead),” Canedo said in an interview over TV Patrol Central Visayas.

His statement, however, was contradicted by witness Benjie Torillas, who said Canedo was driving at high speed.  (FREEMAN)