Holy Monday Cotabato road mishap fatalities identified, death toll rise to 18

DAVAO CITY — The number of fatalities in the Holy Monday tragic road mishap in a provincial road in Barangay Luhong, Arakan, North Cotabato has risen to 18, police authorities have identified the victims .

Police reports indicated that the driver of the Howo dump truck lost its control over the steering wheel while travelling along the curve of Purok 2 in Barangay Luhong and collided with the passnger van at around 12:25 on Holy Monday.

Duet to the impact of the collision the van exploded and fire broke off.

Based on the record of the municipal police of Antipas and the municipal government, the victims were identified as:

1. Mark Anthony Q. Bunda (Driver of the Utility Van), 26 years old, male, single driver, resident of Poblacion Antipas, Cotabato province
2. Irish L. Lopez, 30 years old, female, single, self-employed of Brgy Luhong, Antipas and her son;
3. Ryse Vince Lopez Suan, 6 yrs old, minor (son of Irish;
4. Mary Jane L. Lopez, 52 years old, married, housewife and a res of Brgy Luhong, Antipas;
5. Genevieve D, Vicente, 58 yrs old, married, widow and res of Luhong, Antipas;
6. Kimberly C. Armada, 20 yrs old, female, single, student and a res of Pob Antipas;
7. Xian P, Gellantilay, 5 yrs old, single, male a res of Kiab, Antipas;
8. May Grace T Aaron, 38 yrs old, married, housewife and a res of Brgy Dolores; Antipas
9. Perse Veranda C. Balolong, 73 yrs old, female, married, resident Poblacion Antipas and her husband
10. Ernesto Balolong Sr. 82 yrs old (Husband of Perseveranda);
11. Shirley S. Pojas, 28 years old, single and a res of Brgy Kiyaab, Antipas;
12. Winston Romano Sorsano, 40 yrs old, married, Air-condition Technician, resident of San Marino Blk 7, Lot 16, Das Mariñas, Cavite;
13. Michael Jason Heguinto, 27 years old, single, J & T Courier, and a res. of Brgy Linao, Matalam, Cotabato province;
14. Virginia Wayno Rufino, legal age, married, housewife and a res. of Prk 6 Brgy Sarayan, Matalam, Cot;
15. Maricel Ambay Castillon, 40 years old, married, OFW and a res. of Brgy Poblacion, Antipas, Cotabato;

While two more cadavers, a male and a female have yet to be identified.

Most of the fatalities were trapped inside the passenger van and were burned to death and many are beyond recognition.

The survivors include:

1. Rosario Lopez Reyes of Brgy Luhong still admitted at the Antipas Medical Specialist Hos Inc.
2. Edwin Dumapias Nasiad (Driver of HOWO truck) 49 years old, married, and a resident of Purok 2 Brgy. Tulungan Giuhing Digos City-sustained minor injury;
3. Wilmark Josol Panoy (Helper), 27yo, single and res Prk Batangueño, San Jose Digos City- sustained minor injury and
4. Gregorio Wallace Casiño (Passenger) 53 years old, married, Media Practitioner, who also sustained minor injury.

Antipas mayor Cris Cadungon expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims.

The municipal government immediately extended assistance to the families of the victims.

The tragic incident, according to Cadungon was the worse road accident in his town.