5 land in hospital after bus collision

CEBU, Philippines — Around five people among the 26 passengers were rushed to the hospital after the minibus they were riding collided with a regular bus in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Liki, Sogod, Cebu, Monday dawn.

The five passengers who landed at the Sogod District Hospital were identified as Felix Lahoy-lahoy, 58, from Barangay Malingin, Bogo; Margie Tan, 27, from Barangay Guadalupe, Bogo; Manuel Obsequias, 51; Manuel Rivera, 20, from Laaw, Borbon; and Rogelio dela Rama,42, from Barangay Libjo, Tabogon.

Police Corporal Jose Rospel Hortillana, desk officer of the Sogod Police Station, in a phone interview, said that based on their initial investigation, the Auto Bus and the mini bus were both traversing in the same direction going to Bogo City from Metro Cebu.

The Auto Bus was driven by Zeha Sabanal, 32, a resident of Hernan Cortes, Tipolo, Mandaue City, while the mini bus was driven by Edgar Atendido, 44, from Barangay Dakit, Bogo City.

Hortillana said that at around 2 a.m., the mini bus driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake which resulted in the collision. Of Atendido’s 26 passengers, five of them were brought to the hospital while the rest of them just sustained bruises and scratches.

Hortillana also said that the place is an accident-prone area, considering its terrain.  That area has multiple signages to remind the public to slow down when traversing that place.

Atendido is detained at the Sogod Police Station pending the filing of the case for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple physical injuries and damage to property.

As of this writing, some of the passengers were already sent home, while the remaining five remained at the hospital for treatment. (FREEMAN)