The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered an investigation into the fatal car crash that killed 13 people in Kalinga on Sunday, April 18. 

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas on Monday, April 19, also ordered the PNP Highway Patrol Group and local police units to strictly enforce land transportation rules to prevent overloading and other driving violations. 

On Sunday, 13 people died, including a 3-year-old kid, after the vehicle driven by Jail Officer 1 Soy Lope Agtulao, a personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, crashed and fell into an irrigation canal in Barangay Bulo, Tabuk City. 

According to PNP Cordillera, Agtulao was driving her vehicle (AAK 9180) at around 6:15 pm. She and her passengers, including 7 children and 7 adults, were heading to Bulo Lake from Tadian, Mountain Province. 

When they reached the curved portion of the road, the vehicle slipped off the road and fell into the water irrigation canal and sank. 

The 13 victims were brought to hospitals but eventually pronounced dead. Two people survived the car crash and are currently in stable condition: 51-year-old Edith Andiso Perez and 10-year-old Cyril Lope Agtulao.

The Kalinga provincial government said in a statement that the governor had already instructed the local social welfare department to assist the family of the victims.

“The LGUs remind the community of the strict observance of surgical lockdowns that were imposed on identified areas and the prohibition of unessential activities,” the provincial government said. 

Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code states that the owner of a vehicle found to be overloading may be refused registration or asked to surrender the number plate to authorities. Upon a 72-hour notice, the registration will be suspended until the owner complies with the law. – Rappler.com