Fifteen people died when a truck plunged off a cliff in Mabinay, a town in Negros Oriental known for its hilly terrain with roads that snake through it.
According to Lieutenant Stephen Polinar, the spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO), a tragic incident occurred past 1:30PM, February 21, involving a Mitsubishi canter carrying 17 individuals.
He said the group was en route to Barangay Dawis in Bayawan City, located in the same province, to purchase livestock. However, while passing through Brgy Bulwang, an unexpected malfunction occurred in the truck’s brake system that resulted for the driver to lost control of the vehicle, leading to a catastrophic accident.
The truck plunged off a cliff that was as high as a three-story building. Its impact caused the deaths of 11 individuals instantaneously, police report said.
Four others were taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries.
Social media snapshots showed a scene of utter devastation with victims’ bodies scattered, the truck overturned, and rescuers scrambling to identify those needing immediate care.
Polinar said shortly before sunset, all the remains of the deceased had been recovered and transported to a local funeral parlor in Mabinay.
The fatalities were identified as:
- Ireneo Magos, 37
- Fe Decipolo
- Rolando Decipolo Sr., 63
- Jemboy Egoogan
- Rolindo Decipolo, 29
- Marlon Solidad, 46
- Rex Decipolo, 33
- Rene Magos, 46
- Allan Flores, 36
- Allen Pocong, 44
- Remond Llenes, 29
- Leo Soreño, 43
- Jacob Labrador, 28
- Almar Egoogan, 26
- Roy Magos, 29
Those who survived but sustained head injuries and are now being treated at Mabinay Health Center (MHC) are truck driver Antonio Toreno and Jovanni Flores.
