By Jennifer P. Rendon
Two children died, and 16 others were injured after a passenger jeepney, mostly carrying schoolchildren, flipped on its side in the remote village of Barangay Cagay, Leon, Iloilo.
The fatalities were identified as 13-year-old Arvin and his 5-year-old niece, Princess, both residents of Cagay village.
The injured were identified as Jea Jean, 12, of Cagay village; Erica, 12, of Barangay Danao, Leon; Ma. Laurice Jade, 14, of Danao; Jelyn, 15, of Danao; Althea, 15, of Danao; Joshua Cantomayor, 15, of Danao; John Vincent, 13, of Danao; and Charlyn Mae, 14, of Danao.
Others injured included Kate Tadulan, 19, of Barangay Ingay, Leon; Edmond Tadulan, 52, of Ingay village; Geldeliza Camagos, 45, of Ingay; John Aranda, 44, of Cagay; Marijen Cari, 42, of Danao; Allalyn Cari, 38, of Danao; and Analyn Cabalfin, 39, of Cagay.
Captain John Predic Padilla, Leon police chief, said the jeepney, driven by Yuben Cabansag, 39, of Cagay, was carrying around 30 passengers and was en route to Bucari and later to the Leon town proper when the incident occurred around 6:10 a.m. on August 13.
As the jeepney negotiated a hilly curve, it slid on its rear. Cabansag told investigators that he tried to apply the brake, but the vehicle flipped on its side and landed on the deep shoulder of a road under rehabilitation.
Padilla noted that the section of the road where the incident occurred was slippery.
The victims were rushed to Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian town, but Arvin and Princess were declared dead on arrival.
Princess’s mother was with her during the incident but was physically unharmed.
The driver was placed in police custody after the incident.
