8 dead, 17 hurt in Kalinga road mishap

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, Philippines — Eight people died and 17 others suffered serious injuries when a dump truck fell into a ravine in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Saturday.

Maj. Carol Lacuata, Cordillera police spokesperson, said the still unidentified victims are relatives and were supposed to attend a family reunion in Barangay Balawag.

The injured remain confined in various hospitals.

Police said the truck driver, Mark John Lazaro, 20, lost control of the wheel when the brake malfunctioned while driving uphill in Sitio Binongsay, Barangay Malin-awa at around 10 a.m.

Lazaro surrendered to responding police officers.

In Pangasinan, Maria Theresa Silvestre, a resident of Camiling, Tarlac, died when her motorcycle collided with a van in Barangay Cacaritan, San Carlos, also on Saturday.

Bryan Paul Quilang, 25, was pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital after his motorcycle collided with a Toyota Fortuner in Barangay District One, Cauayan, Isabela.

In Batangas, jeepney driver Wilfredo Macabubud and  17 passengers were injured when their vehicle rammed a concrete barrier in Barangay Balanga, Ibaan.

Police said the victims were on their way to a family outing.

Four other people, including a jeepney driver, were injured when their vehicle rolled over along Kennon Road in Sitio Dungon, Barangay Camp 1, Tuba, Benguet.

A man driving a sport utility vehicle was taken to the Bontoc General Hospital for treatment when his vehicle plunged into a ravine in Sitio Mat-ao, Barangay Alab, Bontoc, Mountain Province also on Saturday. – With Cesar Ramirez, Ed Amoroso