Soldier, 2 militiamen dead, 6 hurt in Davao de Oro road accident

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A soldier and two militiamen were killed while six others were hurt in an accident involving an Army KM450 light truck in Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Saturday morning.

In separate reports on Sunday, Capt. Marc Jaeson Kristoffer Culaste, chief of the New Bataan municipal police, and the Police Regional Office-11, identified the fatalities as Private 1st Class Jaynor Makakua of the 25th Infantry Battalion and two members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, Reynald Balaga and Ferlan Concepcion.

Makakua, who was driving their Army KM450, lost control of the wheel when its engine malfunctioned while he was maneuvering through an uphill stretch of a highway, causing the vehicle to cascade downward in reverse, roll over and plunge into a river several meters away.

Makakua, a Moro Maguindanaon, and Balaga and Concepcion, both members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, all died instantly from injuries caused by the accident, according to Culaste.

Six other passengers of the ill-fated military vehicle, 1Lt. Fidel Castro Jr., Sgt. Michael Arzaga, Cpl. Emil Joy Mission, Pvt. Jonel Alvarado and CAFGU members Jay-Ar Bale and Ardel Castro, were badly hurt, now in a hospital.

Officials of the 10th Infantry Division that has jurisdiction over the 25th IB had promptly extended initial monetary and essential relief support to the injured soldiers and CAFGU members and to the families of Makakua, Balaga and Concepcion.