Originally posted: 8:44 AM October 3rd, 2015
KIDAPAWAN CITY—Nine people were confirmed killed in what was considered the deadliest highway mishap in North Cotabato in recent years when the passenger van they were riding in rammed a huge tree in nearby Matalam town early Saturday, the police said.
Chief Inspector Elias Colonia, Matalam police chief, said the Toyota Hi-Ace van with license plate LHM 995, which came from Davao City and was heading for Cotabato City, was passing by Barangay (Village) West Patadon at around 2:45 a.m. when it suddenly swerved out of lane and hit a huge tree beside the road.
Colonia identified four of the 9 fatalities as Nor Canda, 28 of Plang Village in Kabacan, North Cotabato; Lyle Rodolph Octaviano; Juliet Debalosan, 40, of Davao City; and Haydee Gubaton, of Poblacion 2, Pigcawayan, Cotabato.
Two of the three passengers admitted at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Barangay Amas here were identified as Abel Debalosan, 33; and Solida Echivaria, 55.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato Provincial Police Office spokesperson, said that police investigators were having difficulties in identifying the rest of the victims because they lacked identification cards and their belongings were scattered along the highway.
The remains of the dead victims were at the Collado Funeral Homes in Poblacion in Matalam.
Colonia said based on the information provided by the van’s conductor, the driver—identified as Brendo Singco of Pikit town—also sustained injuries but had fled the wreck.
The conductor, Jebon Policarpio, also told investigators they left Davao City with 17 passengers around midnight Friday.
He said three of the passengers alighted here.
Policarpio said he could not say what went wrong amid speculations the driver might have dozed off.
“We sipped coffee with the remaining passengers before we proceeded with the trip,” Policarpio later told Radio dxND.
Colonia urged Singco to surrender and help shed light to the accident. Williamor Magbanua/RAM