7 dead, 64 hurt in Zamboanga del Sur road accident

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — An overloaded jeepney crashed along the highway in Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur yesterday, leaving seven passengers dead and 64 others injured.

Dato, 15; Joleto, 50; Ernesto, 48, and Mary Joy, 42, all surnamed Genecan; Pecay Florencio Jr., 38; Lenda Owan, 65, and Jelou Macatolad, 13, residents of Barangay Cogonan in Labangan town, were pronounced dead on arrival at the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.

Citing a police report, Zamboanga del Sur acting governor Ace Cerilles said the accident occurred in Barangay Dao less than a hundred meters away from the hospital at around 11:40 a.m.

The victims are beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and were supposed to withdraw their cash assistance from a bank in Pagadian.

Initial investigation showed the driver of the jeepney was speeding and lost control of the wheel when the brake malfunctioned while driving down the road.

The jeepney hit five other vehicles before it rolled over.

In Kalinga, a police officer and four members of his family were injured after their Mitsubishi Pajero collided with a Nissan Frontier in Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk on Tuesday night.

Police Officer 2 Drexel Jay Bog-acon of the Tabuk police, his daughter Dysha-ine, 3; mother Anna, 65, and relatives Rosemarie and Alfredo, both 62, and surnamed Wingnga were taken to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital for treatment.

Police said the driver of the Nissan Frontier, Elymar Ambasing, 30, had tried to escape, but villagers blocked the road.

Ambasing tested positive for alcohol and is being held at the police station. – With Raymund Catindig