2 troopers from Bulut burial die as truck falls into ravine

CALANASAN, Apayao -- Two Army soldiers died while five others were injured when their truck fell into a ravine here Tuesday after attending the burial of  the “Father of Apayao” Elias K. Bulut Sr. 

Sgt. Alberto Agustin, 38, and a certain Pfc. Angeles were declared dead on arrival at the Northern Cagayan Hospital in Barangay Namuac, Sanchez Mira town in Cagayan.

Also injured was truck driver Sgt. Presco Zalun. The four others were identified only as Capt. Dingle, Sgt. Belo, S/Sgt. Aguilar and Pfc. Valdez.

Apayao police director Senior Supt. Robert Gallardo said the victims, who were members of the 502nd Army Brigade based in Echague, Isabela, were on their way back to the barracks from the burial of Gov. Elias Bulut Sr.

Gallardo said the truck was traveling along the highway in Barangay Naguilian when it figured in the accident.

He said the road was slippery due to rains brought by Typhoon Nona.

The troopers were part of folks who paid their respects to Bulut who was laid to rest here in his hometown after he succumbed to a lingering illness Dec. 5 at a hospital in Metro Manila.  

The body of the 76-year-old Bulut was earlier laid at the St. Peter’s Chapel in Commonwealth, Quezon City and brought home Dec7.

A public viewing was held at the Mawanana Mountain Resort and Convention Center here of the Calansan mayor’s body in Santa Filomena until Dec 12 after which the body was brought to Poblacion Dec 13.

His body was interred Dec 15 at Calanasan Memorial Park following vigil at the municipal hall.

Bulut authored Republic Act 7878 which separated the province of Apayao from the old Kalinga-Apayao province in 1995.

He was greatly responsible in shaping the future of Apayao and into what is it today through his long years as the province’s kingpin.

He served as representative of the old Kalinga-Apayao and then the first congressman of the province of Apayao.

He served as provincial governor in 2001 until 2010, and elected mayor of Calanasan from 2010 to present.

 His mission for Apayao was to widen the opportunities of Apayao citizens and indigenous cultural communities in the areas of technology acquisition, intensified agri-industrial production, grains pooling, livelihood creation, and infrastructure building.

He authored Republic Act No. 8563   Converting the Apayao Institute of Science and Technology and its Conner Extension High School in the Municipality of Conner,   into Apayao State College

Bulut’s son, Elias Jr., is the incumbent governor of Apayao while daughter, Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, is the lone district representative of Apayao in Congress.

Netizens showed their grief with the demise of the Apayao leader with several post on social media.

“The whole officialdom and workforce of the Provincial Government of Apayao convey its heartfelt grief, sympathy and sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and among us Iyapayaos for the demise of the one great man and political leader of the Province of Apayao, Hon Elias K. Bulut, Sr. Pained we are for his loss. His legacy as the "Father of Apayao," serve us our inspiration to continue his dream and ours for our development for as he believed. That "If we hold on together our dreams will never die,” in a post by the Provincial Government of Apayao official facebook page.

“To the Greatest Iapayao ever, The Godfather of Apayao, the honorable Congressman, Governor and Mayor Elias Bulut, Sr. may you rest in eternal peace, Sir. Your footprints and legacy are manifested all over Apayao and beyond and in our lives,” read a post in the ApayaoIpasindayawfacebook page. – With a report from Redgie Melvic Cawis