7 killed as van collides with bus in Palawan

PM PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines– Seven persons, including two children of prominent persons here, were killed in a vehicular accident involving a passenger bus and a private van outside the city proper Monday afternoon.

All seven passengers of the van, a Toyota Innova, died at the scene after their vehicle figured in a head-on collision with a passenger bus operated by a roll-on roll-off (Ro-ro) bus line at around 3:30 p.m. in Barangay Sta. Lucia, approximately 30 minutes south of Puerto Princesa.

One of the fatalities was identified as Gathmeen Payuyo, daughter of former Rep. Ponciano Payuyo of the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (Apec) party-list group, who rushed to the site of the accident while the bodies of the victims were being recovered.

The fatalities were on their way back to the city from target shooting practice in Barangay Iwahig, according to Nilo Gallieneto, the owner of the van whose son was driving the vehicle and also died in the accident.

Another fatality was Ariel Rocamora, a son of provincial administrator Agustin Rocamora, according to relatives.

The entire front of the van was crushed, according to Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) operatives who asked not to be named as the investigation into the incident was ongoing.