IN tears, village chair Vilma Eboña of Barangay Aposkahoy, Claveria, Misamis Oriental could only hope the pain will somehow subside after overwhelming support came in the wake of the province’s worse road tragedy in the first month of 2022.
“Akong dakong pasalamat sa inyong pagpakabana. Tua na sa Claveria naplastar ang haya sa among mga silingan nga nipanaw tungod sa paningkamot sa mga maloloy-on nga kasingkasing,” said Eboña after learning from anchorman Manny Agustero that Magnum Radyo’s fund-raising effort was able to gather around P226-thousand cash as of Friday morning to help the victims’ families.
“Dako kaayo kana nga tabang sa mga pamilya. Hinaut nga dili na ko mohilak pa pero sakit gyod kaayo nga hitabo,” added Eboña, who failed to join the Lagonglong trip after she was admitted to a hospital due to high blood pressure.
A total of 12 persons were confirmed dead ― including two children ― and 30 others badly hurt when a Mitsubishi canter truck they were riding lost its brakes and hit a tree before it overturned into a stockpile of rocks along Claveria-Balingasag road in Sitio Baga-ay, Barangay Baliwagan, Balingasag at about 9:30 am on fateful Wednesday.
“Sa mga nitabang, ang Ginoo na lang gyod ang mobalos kaninyo kay mga pobre uyamot intawon kaayo ang hingtungdan nga mga pamilya,” acknowledged Agustero on his radyo program.
Balingasag Chief of Police Maj. Teodoro P. De Oro said of the twelve casualties, eight died on the spot, and one female was declared dead upon arrival at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital.
She was identified by Balingasag Chief Police Investigator, Staff Master Sgt. Roger Pabatao as Estela Mae Halago Mara-on, 23.
Those who died instantly were Elizabeth Bogabaldo, Allan Codenas, Jose Salise Dalanta, Edilberto Albios, Cristina Llanasa Codenas, Susan Henon Dalanta, Loling Sinag-od, and Niño Llanasa.
Pabatao added that the other two died in the evening of the same day at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro, namely Julemer Sevilla, 13, and baby Farah Mae Lungayan, who was only three years old.
So disheartening, Pabatao said, was the fact that half of the 30 injured victims are children with ages ranging from two to 12 years old.
The owner of the vehicle, Nora Odchigue, and the driver Junryl Cagmat were among those hurt in the incident.
Based on the police investigation, the 31-year-old driver lost control of the ill-fated truck when its engine brakes apparently malfunctioned after reaching a curvy downhill stretch in Balingasag town.
The group from Sitio Impakibel, Barangay Aposkahoy in Caleveria was supposed to have an extended Christmas party at Del Carmen beach resort in Lagonglong when tragedy struck.
Those injured were Elbert Umas-as Llanasa, 33; Simo Lago Cape, 58; Jesser Lausa Ferrer, 31; Jelaysah De La Cruz Caroro, 26; Jerosaly Rada Mondalla, 25; Riojane Disyohan Quijada, 23; Jaime Dagit Opaon, 54; Mitchel Cortez Daguiom, 25; Christian Llanasa Odchigue, 24; Nora Llanasa Odchigue, 52; Christian Sinag-od, 17; Joems Roy Sinag-od Yamba, two; Rheame Sinag-od Sevilla, 18; Rafael Desyohan Quijada, six; Joemico Sinag-od Sevilla, 16; JecerJames Sambalon Labide, 12; Myrehjhae Bagaldo Suntaco, 11; Niña Jane Llanasa Odchigue, four; Rogendi Sinag-od, 10; Sander Mendoza, six; Jimbo Sevilla, nine; Jimrel Clark Ferrer; Kent Joseph Dalanta, 10; Kresha Sinag-od, five; Kent Laurenz Mosquida; Jay Vincent Ferrer, eight; Farah Lunggayan, three; Rojem Dy Sinag-od, 10; and Geo Sinag-od, four.
