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GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – The death toll from a road accident in Antipas town, Cotabato province, on Monday, March 25, rose to 17 after a commuter van collided with a dump truck along a highway, bursting into flames upon impact.
Of the 18 passengers in the commuter van, only one – Rosario Reyes – survived and remains hospitalized in Antipas, said Captain Godofredo Tupas II, Antipas police chief.
Investigators have yet to identify a male and a female among the van passengers who died.
Tupas said the 49-year-old driver of the truck, Edwin Dumapias Panoy, along with his companions – Wilmark Panoy, 27, and Gregorio Casiño – were rushed to a hospital.
Based on Tupas’ list, 15 of those who died in the accident were:
- Van driver Mark Anthony Bunda, 26 years old
- Irish Lopez, 30
- Vince Lopez Suan, 6
- Genevieve Vicente, 58
- Sheryl Pojas, 28
- Xian Gelantilay, 5
- Kimberly Shaine Armada, 20
- Mary Jane Lopez, 52
- May Grace Aron, 38
- Persiveranda Balolong, 74
- Ernesto Balolong Sr, 82
- Winston Sorsano, 40
- Machael Heguinto, 27
- Virginia Rufino
- Maricel Castillon, 40
The commuter van burst into flames after impact, burning several passengers trapped inside and thrown off nearby, after colliding with the dump truck around noon in Barangay Luhong, Antipas town, said Cotabato police director Colonel Gilbert Balneg Tuzon.
A video clip circulating on social media showed a group of men attempting to approach one of the helpless victims who called for help. However, the group retreated as the fire rapidly spread. Along with several other onlookers, they watched in horror as the victim burned.
Tupas said it took the police some time to identify some of the victims due to the lack of identification documents in their possession.
“Walang mga ID, nasunog ang mga gamit (They had no IDs, their belongings were burned),” he said.
He said the investigation showed that the wrecked van was dragged by the dump truck for about 50 meters before it burst into flames.
The police official said an initial investigation found that the truck’s brakes malfunctioned, and the driver lost control of the vehicle on a downhill curve and rammed the oncoming van.
Tupas said investigators were also looking into why the van burst into flames. – Rappler.com
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