Teacher dies after van carrying NSPC delegates figures in Batangas mishap

SAN PEDRO CITY –– A teacher died after a van carrying teachers and students returning from the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), figured in a road accident in Batangas province, early on Friday.

A report from Batangas police chief Colonel Edwin Quilates said the accident happened around 4:30 a.m., as the van was traveling southbound at the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road in Barangay Coliat, Ibaan town.

The fatality identified as Marie Joy Maming, a teacher from Manoot National High School in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, was with seven other faculty members and five students supposedly on their way home after attending the NSCP in Tuguegarao City in the Cagayan Valley region.

Investigation revealed the van’s driver, Mark Herwhin Tugade and also a resident of San Jose, had dozed off until the van swerved off the expressway. The vehicle hit some roadside trees before finally tipping onto its side.

The passengers were all taken to a hospital but Naning died about two hours later./lzb