23 escape death as truck plunges down Sadanga ravine: Another vehicular mishap in Sagada claims two lives

By Eduardo Umaming Jr and Larry Madarang

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- A fully loaded jeep plying the Poblacion – Suyo road here driven by Rafael Tocya, turned turtle while going down toBarangay Ankileng morning of Nov. 14 resulting to the death of two persons.

Responding rescue group composed of residents of Ankileng and Suyo, local police and tourist guides rushed all 19 injured passengers to Saint Theodore’s Hospital where Andrew Bannagao, 57, was declared dead-on-arrival.

He is survived by his wife and three children, the eldest is 15 year old high school student.
Two other victims – Manuel Gaong and Elena Balcita, were immediately brought to a hospital in Baguio where the former died four days later.

As of this writing, Balcita is still recovering in the hospital but there is no way to know her full condition.

The other 16 passengers were transferred to Bontoc General Hospital to further check on their injuries.

All were declared safe, and already out from the hospital except for a certain Grace Fiayongan who is 9 nine months, and expecting her due date.

Initial police investigation revealed the vehicle’s hydraulic brake malfunctioned that may had the accident.. This is the second vehicular accident in this municipality in a span of two weeks.
On Oct. 31, a family-owned jeep fell some 70 meters deep along the Dantay – Sagada that claimed the lives of couple Victor and Beatrice Batcagan, their 1 month old baby Jay Batcagan, 16 year old Masinlay Tomy Sia-ed, and Elizabeth Batcagan, 58 year old and school principal of Ankileng National High School.

This happened almost the same site of a similar accident some years back involving teachers from Besao.

Meantime, BIBAK International through Ms. Lulu Delson and accompanied by Caridad Fiar-od made a visit and interview to the family of the late Victor and Beatrice Batcagan for a possible scholarship assistance to one of the 6 surviving children.

Meanwhile, 23 persons including a former provincial board member escaped death after their vehicle plunged down a 10 meter ravine in Sadanga town also in the province on Nov. 17.

Chief Insp. Marcial Faed, provincial operations officer told this writer the incident happened around 5: p.m., at Sitio Indakling, Poblacion.

He identified the vehicle as an Elf truck with plate number UTF 327 owned and driven by Albert Limmayog, a former Mountain Province board member.

Limmayog is now undergoing medical treatment at Bontoc General Hospital.

Rescued and also undergoing medical treatment are Tolentino Garwinen, Rita Wanawan, Paul Egcatan, Mary Baniwas,Qncita Padya-os, Sarawsaw Atuan, Marsaline Iseguen, Palangeo Tudyog, Angelo Agayyong, Julius Amarangeb, Jayson Gadwa, Dominica Fatawil, Benhur Falisong, Domingo Gadwa, Alban Gariwen, Fanwa Tao-ey, Patric Nisban, Paula Atuan, Leopoldo Pais, Jonathan Ngados, Abel Tudyog, Theodora Gadwa, Benedicto Garwinen and Peter Ingan.

All victims were rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital, Faed said.

According to Faed, Limmayog claimed he experienced mechanical defects while negotiating the road which caused the accident.