Camp Dangwa, Benguet—Six people died, mostly teenagers, while two others were seriously injured after their vehicle—a Tamaraw FX—fell into a ravine Thursday in Besao, Mountain Province, 156 kms north of Baguio City.
But discovery of the bodies and the injured was done only after 11 hours due to inclement weather in the area, 4,600 feet above sea level, when a farmer went to his farm at 4 p.m Thursday.
Capt. Marnie Abellanida, deputy regional information officer of the Cordillera Regional Police Office, said the initial report from the Besao Municipal Police Station, only 12 kms from Sagada City, said a car carrying eight people fell into ravine of undetermined depth at 4 p.m. near Sitio Bunga, Barangay Calengan, Besao.
Personnel from the Besao MPS, Philippine Army, Besao Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council, and barangay officials responded and rescued first the two seriously injured people—Lander Maticyeng, 17, and Novelyn Sagantiyoc, 18, both from Patiacan, Quirino, Ilocos Sur.
Both were rushed to Besao District Hospital for treatment.
According to Abellanida, six other passengers pulled from the ravine were declared dead by Dr. Joy Dicdican, municipal health officer, who was at the site to monitor the incident.
“Currently, the police are still investigating the cause of the accident and are still determining the identities of the victims,” Abellanida said.
The fatalities were identified as Rhema Sumingwa, 18, and Merley Docyogen, 17, both residents of Catengan, Besao, Mountain Province;
Lendel Keith Alfonso, Hazel Solang, and Dalog Kawi Mangallay, all 19 years old, and Lip-aw Aligan, 21. The latter four were likewise residents of Patiacan, Quirino, Ilocos Sur.