9 killed in Christmas Day mishaps

MANILA, Philippines - Nine persons, including an editor of a daily tabloid, were killed in what authorities described as Christmas Day accidents in Luzon.

Saturnino Sofranes, 68, of People’s Tonight, was crossing the highway in San Pedro, Laguna when a Hyundai dump truck hit him at about 11 a.m., said Superintendent Sergio Manacop, town police chief.

Sofranes was declared dead on arrival at the Divine Mercy Hospital.

Truck driver Roel Hornada, 30, surrendered to the police after the accident and was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

Meanwhile, 10-year-old April Cawili was killed after he was hit by a passenger jeepney as he was crossing the street in Barangay Dila in Bay town.

In Cavite, Marilyn Quinzon, Paysalin Benito and Renilyn Peñaranda were killed after their car crashed into a concrete wall as they were traveling along Aguinaldo Highway between the boundary of Silang and Tagaytay City, said Police Officer 3 Semadan Sitchon of the Silang police.

A witness told police he saw the car running at top speed before it smashed into the wall at around 3:30 a.m.

In Isabela, Maria Lata, 62, and her granddaughter, Rhea, four months old, died after they were hit by a motorcycle in the town of Reina Mercedes, according to Chief Inspector Freddie Natividad, head of the municipal police.

The victims, who were on their way to a family gathering, were declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Cauayan City.

Police arrested the driver of the motorcycle, identified as Mulawin Maranan.

In Nueva Ecija, Richard Villanueva and Jomar Tangalin were killed on the spot after their motorcycle collided with a passenger bus of the Guardian Angels Bus company in the City of Muñoz.

Police said bus driver Rodel Cachero gave himself up after the accident. 

Meanwhile in Pangasinan, eight persons were injured in three accidents that occurred in the towns of Agno and Bugallon, also on Christmas Day. The victims were taken to separate hospitals for treatment. – Ed Amoroso, Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu, Cesar Ramirez