ILOILO City – Four police officers died and 31 others were injured after the truck they were riding plummeted into a 100-meter deep ravine in Barangay Ginomoy, Alimodian, Iloilo.
The accident happened around 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong said members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) were aboard the vehicle on their way back to a police camp.
According to Malong, the truck’s brake malfunctioned, causing it to veer off the highway and plunged deep down into a cliff in the upland village of Ginomoy.
“Our police came from a combat operation but they met an accident when they reached the hilly portion of Barangay Ginomoy. We are so sad of what happened to our men,” said Malong, adding the victims were mostly young police officers for anti-insurgency operations.
The casualties were identified as Police Corporal Emerson Peñarubia, Police Patrolmen Prince Angelo Supiter, Rex Agupitan and Antonio Tumanday Jr.
They died of severe body and head injuries, according to Iloilo Police Provincial Office director, Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas.
Lucas said some of the surviving cops were brought to the Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian.
Those taken to various hospitals in Iloilo City were Police Captain Bonifacio Alabe Jr.; Police Corporals Armand Bayoneta; Rocky Ebersabal; Mark Anthon y Lozada; June Err Pabiana; Kevin Puig; Errol Antonio; Police Captain Miles Dieron; Police Patrolmen Francis Prudente; Noriel Vergara; Jebb Villanueva; Emerson Luage; Ian Dapulano; Aldrin Jama; Regie Bacobor; Alan James Sitchon; Abe Corros; Roger Travifia; Eric Palma; James Paul Guilhon; Jay-R Idquilla; Elbert Laguna; Jimboy Patricio; Rhonel Pahilanga; Argie Rolando
Rescue workers, including some from Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), had to cut apart the truck with heavy equipment to be able to remove Alabe and others. Alabe who was sitting in the front seat was the last one to be rescued as he was stuck under the truck.
Malong denied reports that the incident was the result of an attack by the New People’s Army. /PN
