KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 8 Jan) – Three people died while eight others were injured when a passenger Multicab vehicle fell into a ravine at the foot of Mount Apo Sunday, police said.
Chief Insp. Ramel Hojilla, Kidapawan City police director, identified those slain as Panda Pacatua, 62; Jalilah Salim Ibrahim, 16; and Jonaisa Salim Ibrahim, 18, all residents of Barangay Indangan in Makilala, North Cotabato. Jonaisa and Jalilah were both senior high school students at the Indangan National High School here.
Injured were Monjer Ibrahim, 18; Samdil Linao, 19; Merlin Marohom, 15; Javere Salim, 10; Melody Noveno, 18; Tarhata Lumna, 19; Jalil Ibrahim, 20; at Jane Noveno, 47.
Hojilla said the incident happened past 4 p.m. at Purok-Tres in Barangay Ilomavis here.
Monjer Ibrahim, one of those injured, said the Multicab, which he said was overloaded with passengers and cargo, went wayward after it maneuvered a blind curve. The driver, he said, could no longer control the vehicle as it sped away and minutes later fell into a 20-foot ravine.
The driver, identified as Moises Oclarit Ladra, 54, reportedly sustained only minor injuries.
The rest, according to Hojilla, suffered head contusions and injuries in different parts of their bodies.
Five of those injured, according to reports, are still in critical condition.
Monjer said they came from a birthday party of his niece at the Mahomanay Hot Spring and Resort at Lake Agko and were headed back to the city when the accident happened.
He never thought the party could end in tragedy.
The three who died in the accident were his relatives.
Hojilla said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and multiple frustrated homicide are being prepared against the driver. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)
