ILOILO CITY— The vehicle carrying Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu fell into a rice field in Culasi town in Antique province Monday morning after it hit a motorcycle.
Cimatu and his driver were unharmed while the three passengers of the motorcycle, including a three-year-old boy, incurred abrasions, according to SPO3 Andres Caduada, investigator of the Culasi police station.
Cimatu was on his way to Barangay Caticlan in Malay town in Aklan on board a Mitsubishi Outlander of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
His vehicle slightly hit the rear of the motorcycle around 10:15 a.m. along the national highway in Barangay Bitadton Sur just before reaching the neighboring Sebaste town.
Cimatu’s vehicle fell into a rice land after his driver swerved the vehicle sharply to the left to avoid further hitting the motorcycle and its passengers, according to Caduada.
Cimatu transferred to an accompanying vehicle and proceeded to Caticlan after he made sure that the passengers of the motorcycle did not suffer serious injuries.
The three passengers were taken to the Culasi District Hospital for treatment.
Cimatu regularly visits Antique province, the home province of his wife, whenever he is on Boracay Island in the neighboring province of Aklan to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation efforts. /ee