Marcos: Heads will roll over bridge collapse

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos wants the collapse of a P1.2-billion newly opened bridge in Isabela province investigated and those found liable for negligence punished, Malacañang said yesterday.

The collapse of the 990-meter Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge on Thursday night left at least six people injured. The bridge was opened to vehicles only last month.

A portion of the bridge gave way as a dump truck loaded with boulders passed over it.

“I spoke with the President yesterday (Feb. 28) regarding this. It will be investigated to determine if there is corruption involved from the time its construction began in 2014 until today. If there is, we won’t allow anyone to escape from accountability,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told state-run Radyo Pilipinas.

“That’s what the President said... especially if it is tainted with corruption. Because the first thing that will cross your mind is how come the bridge was so weak,” she added.

Castro said a probe would determine the cause of the collapse and who should be held liable.

“Once we determine who is behind the wrongdoing and if it is tainted with corruption, someone should be held accountable, should be put in jail,” the Palace press officer said.

Castro said local governments and their building officials should also check the bridges in their respective areas because the President cannot inspect them one by one.

If there are problems, the local officials should coordinate with the public works department for quick response, she added.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)’s office in Isabela is leading the investigation.

The construction of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge started in November 2014. It was supposed to be finished in 2019, but it underwent retrofitting.

Meanwhile, police said the driver of the dump truck that reportedly caused the collapse of the bridge has surrendered.

Maj. Merwin Villanueva of the Cabagan police station said over Radyo Pilipinas Tuguegarao that the driver, whom he did not name, surrendered yesterday morning. The driver did not immediately surrender for fear for his safety.

Six people, including a child, were injured in the collapse, according to the Isabela Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The truck, with an estimated gross vehicle weight of 102 tons, came from Kalinga and was on its way to a construction project in Northern Isabela when the mishap happened.

The Department of Public Works and Highways Region II office said it was the third span of the bridge with a length of 60 meters which collapsed as the dump truck was passing over it. — Emmanuel Tupas