5 persons killed, 3 hurt in Vizcaya road mishap

BY JOAN CAPUNA

BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya – Five persons, including a three-year-old girl, died when a truck rammed them on the national road here at Barangay Pogonsino early morning on Dec. 18. Police said the victims had just attended a misa de gallo (dawn mass) when the incident happened.

Three of the victims’ companions were still fighting for their lives in a hospital here at press time. Police identified the victims as Jana Arponeda, 3; Gemma Biag, 38; Virginia Laser; Petra Cadiente, 74; and Jennie Arponeda, 24. Biag and Laser died on the spot. Desiree Biag, 8, and Ian Biag, 9, were still in serious condition in the hospital. Senior Supt. Segundo Duran, provincial police director, said the victims were walking on a dark portion of the sidewalk when they were rammed by a speeding Isuzu Forward truck driven by Christopher Parong, 30, of Alicia, Isabela. Parong surrendered to the police.

He said someone suddenly crossed the street in the village, causing him to lose control of the steering wheel. He also said the truck turned wayward and swerved toward a dark stretch of the sidewalk where the victims were walking. Police investigators were preparing charges of multiple homicide through reckless imprudence against Parong.