Argao government probes bloody road crash

CEBU, Philippines - The Argao municipal government has launched an investigation into Tuesday morning's road accident in which a truck heading to Carbon public market in Cebu City fell into a ravine in Barangay Gutlang, killing four and hurting 11 people.

 "We are creating a parallel inquiry to determine the factors of the vehicular accident," said Argao town Mayor Stanley Caminero yesterday, as he visited the injured passengers who are admitted at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

The passengers of the truck were identified to be Argao residents venturing in the agricultural business. 

Caminero said the investigating team is already narrowing down the probable reasons why the accident happened.

He said though they have discounted the possibility that the state of the road where the incident happened contributed to the crash.

An ocular inspection made by the team in the area showed that the street is made of concrete and was recently developed as one of the farm-to-market road projects. It is considered as a major thoroughfare for transporting goods or farm produce.

Caminero said the investigating body is now considering the condition either of the vehicle or the driver. But he stressed that the team will only come up with a conclusion after the investigation.

The mayor pointed out that the investigation is done to help town officials in coming up with measures or interventions to prevent the same incident from happening.

He admitted the road crash tested the capability of the municipality in responding to emergencies and creating linkages with concerned entities, like the police, neighboring local government units, among others.

Four were killed in the crash including two children, an old woman and another woman believed to be pregnant.

Based on Caminero's count, nine were critically injured and were rushed to VSMMC in Cebu City while two injured individuals were left in the town's medical center since their conditions were manageable.

He said the two are now in good condition.

Of the nine brought to VSMMC, six of them are still confined at the medical facility. The other three were already discharged yesterday.

The mayor said the municipal government is looking into how to help the patients, but added that most of them are covered by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation while some are members of the conditional cash transfer program of DSWD, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

"By operation of law, they may avail of the no balance billing," said Caminero, referring to the new PhilHealth policy, mandating that no other fees shall be charged or paid for by indigent patients.

He said he will also have to verify first if the admitted patients are covered by any program of PhilHealth or the Department of Health.

"We have to review and check first-hand the conditions of the patients and see the total extent of the damage," he said.

The Argao government has assigned a staff coordinator to communicate with VSMMC personnel to assist the patients, said the mayor.

He said an average burial assistance of P3,000 will be extended to bereaved families, while financial aid would also be provided to the others injured, although the amount will depend on the assessment of the town social workers.

"It's a case-to-case basis. If luoy kaayo then we will consider nga moha-tag og dako-dakong tabang. We will also have to check if indigent ba gyud sila," he explained, adding that they are now anticipating family members or relatives of those hurt or killed to go to the Social Welfare and Development Office to request for assistance.

The mayor said that aside from the Cebu Provincial government, second district Representative Wilfredo Caminero also pledged to provide financial support to those affected.

Meanwhile, Police Officer 3 Benjamin Gerosaga of Argao Police Station said they are waiting for relatives of the victims to file for a case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries against Edgar Pescadero, the driver of the truck before the Prosecutor's Office.

"So far wala pay nianhi sa among station nga relatives," he said.

Gerosaga added if no one from the relatives will file a complaint against the driver, they will release Pescadero after the reglementary period.

Pescadero allegedly lost control of the truck after the brakes malfunctioned. (FREEMAN)