Belated reports reaching the Region 9 police headquarters identified nine of the fatalities as Pfc. Ricky Aquit of the 33rd Infantry Battalion; Plorimit Senoc, Fe Alvarez, Rosalito Manalit, Jungjung de los Santos, Damian Alvarez, Allan Rojaz, Aniceta Sanggayan and Nurhari Akilam, the van’s driver.
Police said the truck driver, Eusebio Alumdia, was unhurt and surrendered after the accident.
Investigation showed the van was trying to overtake a bus when it smashed into the truck on the opposite lane at about 4:30 p.m. last Sunday.
The van was en route from Ipil town to Dipolog City when it met the accident. — Roel Pareño