3 police trainees killed, 18 others hurt in Cagayan de Oro crash

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Three police recruits were killed while 18 others were injured when the truck they were riding slammed onto a gate and then a tree in Barangay Gusa here on Monday.

According to authorities, the truck lost its break while negotiating a steep road and consequently crashed on a closed gate of a private property before hitting a tree in a secluded area of the village.

Agora police station chief Maj. Julius Clark Macariola IV said the truck was used to haul lumber and discarded tires, which will be utilized for the regional police riders’ training, from Barangay Indahag to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division headquarters.

The police recruits are from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion of the Philippine National Police-10 (PNP-10) based in Indahag, investigators said.

Many of the passengers were thrown off the truck upon impact, Macariola noted, while others were hit by tires and lumber that were tossed out of the vehicle.

He said one of the trainees was killed instantly, while two recruits died later.

Surviving victims, including the driver and his aide, were brought to a private hospital and a government-run medical facility for treatment.

“The survivors are out of danger but they are still under observation,” Macariola said.

Investigators identified those killed as Roigie Bulay, Elbert Sheen Labra, and Aldred Catane.

Bobby Sigla, a security guard who witnessed the incident, said he saw the speeding truck tear open the gate of the private property.

“I heard a loud sound. Then, next I saw there were people lying on the road. I rushed in to help,” Sigla said.

City police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Mardy Hortillosa has confirmed that the materials the truck was carrying were to be used for PNP-10’s motorcycle riding course.

Hortillosa, one of those who participated in the riding course, said they requested the police recruits to haul the tires and lumber.

“It’s just unfortunate that it happened to them,” Hortillosa said.