5 more Quezon road fatalities named

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—The police in Quezon province have started conducting random vehicle inspections, checking brake and signal lights, among other things, in the wake of last Saturday’s eight-vehicle smashup in Atimonan town that left 20 dead and more than 50 injured.

On Sunday, police released the names of five more fatalities, on top of the 12 previously named, leaving only three who had yet to be identified.

Senior Supt. Ronaldo Genero Ylagan identified the five fatalities as Misael Libantino, Ma. Perlin Saño, Nerrisa Alto, Maricel Naisa and a “Baby Boy” Nuñez.

The 12 fatalities earlier identified were John Omar Talicol, Camacho Nexter, Maria Teresa Diesmo, Perfecto Zaño, Henry Malaluan, Ronnie Villeja, Noe Nuñez y Cera, Danilo Espencilla, Michael Villamor, Rajick Muksan, Jodelyn Consuelo and Rene Jimenez.

“There would be no road accidents if drivers followed all the basic safety rules and vehicles were in good running condition,” said Ylagan on Sunday.

Roadworthiness

Ylagan urged motorists to maintain the roadworthiness of their vehicles.

He said drivers should also observe all safety precautions when passing through the Maharlika Highway and other accident-prone areas to prevent accidents similar to what happened on Saturday on a downhill stretch of the winding diversion road in Atimonan.

Investigators said the smashup, which occurred around 1 a.m., was triggered by a wayward truck that slammed into the rear of a passenger bus. The driver of the bus lost control of his vehicle, hitting six other vehicles coming from the opposite direction before toppling over on the narrow downhill road.

Nineteen persons, including the driver and helper of the truck and mainly passengers of the bus, died on the spot, while another person was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in Atimonan.

Absence of lights, signs

Ylagan took note of the absence of lights and road signs along several dangerous spots on the highway, long known as an accident prone area.

Sold to junk shops

In previous interviews, officials of the local Department of Public Works and Highways office blamed the loss of road warning signs and steel railings on thieves who sold them to junk shops.

“We’ve already replaced the missing signs several times. Every time we receive reports of stolen signs (and) railings, we immediately put up replacements because we know its importance to safe travel. But after a few days, the signs will be lost again to junk thieves,” said a DPWH road worker who requested anonymity for lack of authority to talk to reporters.

The road worker said that law enforcers and barangay (village) watchmen in accident-prone areas should also be held responsible for the loss of road warning signs.

Not interested

“The thieves are emboldened to continue because they apparently are not afraid of being arrested. It seems that law enforcers are not interested in solving this kind of crime,” said the DPWH field worker.

Sought for comment, Ylagan said he would direct the police in the area to investigate the theft of highway signs and steel railings and arrest those responsible.