BONTOC, Mountain Province – Two people died while three others were injured after an Ifugao-bound ambulance plunged into a ravine at sitio Ba-ey Doddo, Talubin, here, Tuesday.
Police authorities identified the fatalities Earole Kurt Akiate, 21 and Franklin Angawa, 37, the ambulance driver and both residents of Hapao, Hungduan, Ifugao while those injured were named as Rexton Abluyen Duyapat, 20, Nelda Joy Angawa Tapyugen, 23, a social worker of the Hungduan municipal hospital and Anabelle Attang, 32, a nursing attendant of the same hospital.
Initial police investigation showed that the ambulance owned by the Hungduan municipal hospital where the 5 persons were on board came from the Bauko-based Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital and was on its way back to Hungduan, Ifugao when the vehicle suddenly encountered mechanical trouble upon reaching the place of incident that caused the driver to eventually lose control of the same until it plunged into the ravine.
The two fatalities were declared dead on the spot by municipal health officials while the three injured individuals were rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital and the Luis Hora Regional Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
Tribal elders in the said place also conducted a cleansing ritual in the place of incident to drive away the bad spirits in the said area.
By Dexter A. See
