3 dead as van plunges into Benguet ravine

BAGUIO CITY — Three passengers perished while six others were injured when a commuter van plunged into a 100-meter deep ravine Tuesday afternoon at Kilometer 57, Sitio Calasigan, Barangay Cattubo in Atok, Benguet.

The Atok, Benguet police, together with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management personnel said the mishap involved a Toyota Hi-Ace van with plate No. AEN 382.

The fatalities were identified as van owner and driver Rey Carias Batong, 38, of Guinzadan Norte, Bauko, Mt. Province; Mateo Elector Loy-odan Ngade, 34,of Tadian, Mt. Province and Lourdes Payacda Balog-ang, 69, a resident of Purok 6, Irisan, Baguio City.

Injured were Jessy Keth Cambolo Panisigan, 6, Grade 1 Pupil of Star Colleges, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet; Kyra Panisigan Batawag, 4; Glenda Panisigan Batawang, 41, all natives of Guinzadan, Bauko, Mt. Province and residents of Lubas, La Trinidad, Benguet; Marilyn Pacio Tomayo, 41, of Poliwes, Baguio City; Apolonia Pacalso, 68, and David Ingaan Caoili Jr., 59, both of Bana-ao, Tadian, Mountain Province.

Pacalso and Ingaan were transferred to the Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad while Batawang, Panisigan and Batawang are now at Pines City Doctors Hospital in Baguio City.

Witnesses told investigators that the ill-fated Baguio City–bound van overtook a truck before plunging into the ravine at around 1:30 p.m. (Zaldy Comanda)