One more student dies in Benguet highway mishap

BAGUIO CITY – The death toll in the accident along Marcos Highway in Tuba, Benguet rose to eight even as Sen. Edgardo Angara called on the Commission on Higher Education to impose a moratorium on field trips following the incident that claimed the lives of several students and faculty members of Marinduque State College (MSC).

Police said the descending bus along the tricky bend in SitioBontiway, Barangay Poblacion in Tuba, overtook another vehicle when it smashed head on to the truck.

Thirty-one tourism students and two teachers from MSC, including two tour guides, were on the Baguio leg of a three-day Manila-Ilocos-Baguio educational tour, when the driver lost control of the bus, causing it to ram two other vehicles last night of Feb. 21.

Joanna Pisara, who was confined at the intensive care unit of the Baguio General Hospital following the highway mishap that claimed the lives of two of her teachers, three classmates, their tour guide and one alternate driver, died 3:45 Wednesday afternoon.

She suffered cardiac arrest, said 911-on-call rescue group chief Rafael Valencia, who brought out most of the fatalities and survivors from the bus and the 18-wheeler truck that collided.

Six persons died on the spot when the tourist bus hired by MSC educational trip contingent collided with the Baguio-bound 18-wheeler processed meat delivery truck.

Another one died before reaching the hospital.

All of the fatalities were already brought home while all of the survivors except four other passengers of the bus returned to their native Marinduque.

Pisara reportedly “died” Monday night when she showed no vital signs but “came back” after a few minutes.
Like Pisara’s classmate, FlorelynZulueta, who still remains at the ICU, most of the survivors suffered serious bone and facial injuries.

Three others – driver Roger Albayalde, students Shery May Rufugo, 18 and Almar Reginio,19 are being treated and undergoing observation at the hospital.

“We are glad she is okay now,” Rufugo’s mother, Joy, said.

Rufugo's face was scarred from the strong impact of the accident but is able to speak a few words. “Parang hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala,” she said, struggling to speak.

Valencia who personally pulled out Rufugo from the piles of dead and injured bodies inside the bus said the tourism student was unconscious when taken to the hospital.

The young Rufugo only woke up half a day after the accident. She is set to be transferred to the Eyes, Ears, Nose and Tongue (EENT) section for follow check up on her facial condition.

The elder Rufugo and her husband Sancho traveled all the way from Marinduque after learning of the accident.

The mother said she is grieving for the other victims who died in the accident.

A case is being readied against the bus firm, its owner and the driver — Roger Albayalde - who is also lying injured a few feet from the three student survivors at the surgery ward.

Nineteen-year-old AlmarReginio, whose face like the younger Rufugo's was also injured, said he is recovering from the accident.
He is set to undergo a number of checkups to be able to leave the hospital and go home.

Reginio who was sitting at the bus’ back row was found by rescuers unconscious at the front row.

Reginio said that while they were still in Baguio City on that fateful night, they were told that the bus had some problems and they would be transferred to another bus when they reach Manila. “Kaso, hindina kami umabot.”

Officials of the MSC headed by university president Romulo Malvar are still in Baguio to monitor the recovery of their students.

Malvar said university vice president Leodegario Halos, who has been in Baguio for several days now, is helping in the preparation of the case being readied against the bus owner and driver.

The Benguet prosecutor’s office has denied the petition of driver Albayalde to be transferred to a hospital in Ilocos Sur.
Albayalde, who is from Caoayan town in IlocosSur was only an alternate driver, his brother Jimmy who motored from Vigan City to the hospital said.

“Akala ko nga siya na ang patay, kasi sabi patay ang bus driver,” Jimmy Albayalde said.

Another driver, Leopoldo Nana, was among those killed in the tragedy.

“Our prayers are with the families of those who figured in this tragic accident,” said Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on education, arts and culture.

“But this kind of field trip, though it may help domestic tourism, does not necessarily help the study of tourism,” he said.
Angara said such educational tours are often expensive, costing an average of P5,000 to P10,000 per student.

He added trips to hotels, restaurants and other hospitality institutions within the province or region of the school can still provide educational value to tourism students.

“Field trips must be conducted without endangering the lives of students and imposing high financial burden on their families. I urge CHED to issue a moratorium until a more reasonable set of criteria for allowing such trips (is devised),” said Angara, a former president of the University of the Philippines.