TUBOD, Lanao del Norte ( February 12) — A mother and her two minor kids died in a vehicular accident while hurriedly leaving their home, this, after reading a social posts that terrorist will attack their village .
Romeo Obedencio, the husband narrated, on February 7, the day after the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) Plebiscite, his wife Jenalyn Bermejo, 27, their two children-Chrisel Mae, 8 and Dave, 4, and her mother, Benida Bermejo, 60, rushed to leave Barangay Malingao, after reading an unverified social media post saying terrorist will attack the place.
Obedencio, said his wife wanted to secure the kids and to seek temporary at her brother’s house in Aloran, Misamis Occidental.
“My wife was active on Facebook. Everytime she reads ‘threat posts’, she was frightened, nervous and would tell me to leave with our children to keep them safe,” Obedencio said.
Obedencio recalled, Jenalyn tried to leave their village eve of the February 6 plebiscite when talks about possible attack circulated in Facebook.
During the plebiscite, Obedencio recalled, Jenalyn panicked when the police fired warning shots when they saw a group of Maranao arrived in their barangay, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’. She was horrified, and again wanted to leave the village.
When the “No” vote won, talks of being attacked continued, Jenalyn prepared to leave but her husband assured her they will be fine.
“I always convinced her not to evacuate because I can take care of them but she was decided to go. My mother-in-law even went with her,” Obedencio said.
The malicious post, according to Obedencio prompted his wife to leave their village, which resulted to their death.
The police report stated, that the victims aboard a motorbike were traversing the highway of Barangay San Antonio, when the accident happened.
The report said the motorbike overtook another vehicle in a blind curve but the driver lost control which caused the motorcycle to wobble towards the approaching dumptruck. The motorcycle fell down, victims were ran over by the dump truck.
The drump truck driver, according to witnesses was crying as he pick up the bodies of the victims.
The driver is now under the custody of the police while an amicable settlement is underway, according to Governor Imelda Dimaporo.
Dimaporo provided assistance to the family of the victims and the driver of the motorbike who is still at the hospital.-Divina M. Suson/NewsLIne.ph
