TUBLAY, Benguet – Twenty three passengers of a public utility bus were injured after their vehicle suffered mechanical trouble that caused the same to fall on its side along the Acop-Kapangan-Kibungan road, particularly at sitio Camunayan, barangay Baayan here around 3 pm Monday.
Superintendent Cherry Fajardo, public information officer of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera, said four out of the twenty three inured passengers remained confined at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) undergoing close medical supervision.
The injured bus occupants having a route of Baguio-Taba-ao were Brenda Thomis Alimba, 45, married, resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Julie Tabaoan Joseph, 43, married and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Areany Tagtag Poengi, 4 and resident of Taba-ao Kapangan, Benguet; Amorel Paclit Bayangan, 12 resident of Boneng, Atok , Benguet; Ana Margaretta Alimba Paltoki, 28 and resident of Taba-ao, Benguet; Darleen Chamis Alimba, 7 and resident of Taba-ao Kapangan, Benguet; Leonora Tadpol Litawen, 35, teacher and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Liezel Antorio Dewey, 8 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Jovelyn Gosgos sitig, 13 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Frince Mark Lucas Mariano, 6 and resident of Central, Kapangan, Benguet; Aurelia Lucas Mariano, 6 and resient of Central, Kapangan, Benguet; Julieta Cos0ag Gomez, 35, married and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Noela Polking, 26 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Tabena Alonzo, 71, married and resident of Taba-oa, Kapangan, Benguet; Patricia Pedaso Alonzo, 58, married and resident of Taba-ao. Kapangan, Benguet; Helen Hadsan Garcia, 84, married and resident of Amburayan, Kapangan, Benguet; Kenny G. Litawen 1 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Irish Nikki Cholinas Gorio 6 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Emiliana Damsali 88 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Jaycelle Burcio Cholinas, 14 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet;,Ziane Rence Alimba Paltoki 1 and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet; Rosenda Epie Kitan, 38, married and resident of Cubba, Kapngan, Benguet; and Rex Epie Kitan, and resident of Taba-ao, Kapangan, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed the bus was proceeding northward after it came from Baguio city and while it was about to negotiate a descending portion of the road, it suddenly encountered mechanical defect prompting the driver to bump the vehicle on the mountain that resulted to it falling on its left side.
Because of the said incident, twenty three out of the forty bus occupants were injured and subsequently rushed to the BeGH for medical treatment.
The driver stands to face charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries and damage to property before the Benguet prosecutor’s office once the victims decide to do so.