9 killed in Maharlika highway accident in Quezon

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — Nine persons, including three children, were killed when a Bicol-bound passenger bus collided head-on with a loaded tricycle in Calauag, Quezon, on Sunday morning, police said.

Chief Inspector Edcille Canals, Quezon police media relation officer, said an Arandia passenger bus (EVN-970) was travelling along Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) Biyan from Manila towards Bicol at around 7 a.m. when it swerved to the opposite lane in trying to overtake another bus and then rammed an incoming passenger tricycle (plate number 2278).

The tricycle, which was bound for the Calauag town proper, was dragged by 56 meters from the point of collision. Its eight passengers all died on the spot, said Canals, quoting the town’s police report.

The fatalities were identified as Natividad Ostinado Breva, 51; Federico Tapalla Ebiernas, 44; Letecia Lascano Ebiernas, 43; Jackielyn Pera Casabon, 29; Krizel Olivar Pera, 14; Glicel Pera Casabon, 9; Daniela Tenoreo Olanda, 9; and Kathleen Pera Casabon, 7.

The tricycle driver, Redentor Ingente Olanda, 37, was declared dead on arrival at the St. Peter Hospital in Calauag, he said.

The bodies of the victims were at the Sutarez Funeral Home in Calauag, as of Sunday afternoon, Canals said.

Bus driver Albert Palmiano Oli was detained at the Calauag police jail on charges of multiple homicide and damage to property.

Canals said that members of a radio communication group, Kabalikat Civicom, were the ones who immediately informed the police of the accident.

Chief Inspector Juan Byron Leogo, Calauag police officer-in-charge, rushed to the accident site and supervised the investigation and the flow of traffic, said Canals.