Brakes of bus to Tabuk malfunction -- kicker

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Four persons, including a four-year-old girl, were killed and 25 others were injured late Wednesday afternoon when the Tabuk-bound bus they were riding in suffered mechanical trouble and plunged into a creek at Luyucan, Nambaran, this city.

Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, identified the dead victims as Luis Tingle, 40, native of Casigayan, Tabuk City; Cristina Asan, native of Taloctoc, Tanudan, Kalinga; Uney Kawasaki, 4, of Bulanao, this city and Corazon Espita, 43, resident of Quezon, Isabela.

The 25 injured victims were identified as Leo Josue, 40, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Florencia Dummanay, 62, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Aray Dangani, 34, of Anunang, Rizal, Kalinga; Bartolome Sabrano, 51, of San Julian, Tabuk; Joselina Garcia, 39, of Rizal, Kalinga; Kim Joseph Agsao, 3, of Rizal, Kalinga; Lourdes Campilis, 58, of Agbannawag, Tabuk; Jocelyn Macababbad, 49, of Agpas, Tabuk; Gina Umawing, 31, and Princess Macababbad, 4, both of Agpas, Tabuk.

Also injured were Remy Magmoyao, 27, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Eddie Agsao, 50, of Liwan, Rizal, Kalinga; Mary Grace Palattao, 19, of Sucbot, Pinukpok, Kalinga; Muhaime Gumaal, 37, of Dagupan Centro, Tabuk; Roel Eugenio, 18, of Santiago City, Isabela; Elizabeth Miana, 40, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Joan Estalilla, 19, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Mirason Baniatan, 22, of Laya East, Tabuk; Joana Batuwil, 19, of Agbannawag, Tabuk; Banigno Awingan, 27, of Bulanao, Tabuk; Emilio Puega, 34 of Bulanao, Tabuk; Angelito Prudencio, 22 of Quezon, Isabela; RJ Umawing, 1, of Agpas, Tabuk; Norie Macababbad of Agpas, Tabuk; and Jessie Bruno, driver of the ill-fated vehicle.

Police investigation showed the Dang-on bus bearing plate number AYC908 and bound for this city from Santiago City, Isabela was negotiating at high speed an upward curve of the road in Barangay Lacnog when it partly missed the curve.

Then, the vehicle started moving backwards, and suddenly its brakes malfunctioned. Then, it broke through the guard rails of the Luvucan Bridge and plunged into the creek some 20 meters below.
Police said Tingle, Asan, and Kawasaki died on the spot, while Espita was declared dead on arrival at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital here.As of yesterday, all the injured victims were still confined. -- Dexter A. See and EAJ