INC minister killed, 3 hurt after car plunges in ravine

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - A minister of Iglesia ni Cristo was killed while his three companions were badly injured when their car plunged into a deep ravine on Sunday in Sultan Kudarat town.

Senior Inspector Ismael Madin, chief of the Sultan Kudarat municipal police, identified the fatality as Freddie Itak, 40, who died on the spot from injuries he sustained in the accident.

Itak and his companions, driver Ariel Rizaldo, 42, Jay Tubio, 32, and Jun Bikog, 30, were on their way to Lebak town from North Cotabato when their car fell into the deep side of a secluded stretch of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Barangay Ladja.

Responding members of the Cotabato City Rescue group managed to remove the victims from the totally wrecked car using mountain climbing harnesses.

The three companions of Itak are now undergoing medication at a hospital.