10 PEOPLE KILLED IN GENERAL SANTOS ROAD ACCIDENT

COTABATO CITY: Ten people — including three minors —were killed while five others remain in critical condition when a speeding van collided with a passenger truck along the highway in Barangay Batomelong, General Santos City (GenSan) on Monday.

Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, spokesman for the Police Regional Office in Region 12 (PRO-12), said the accident happened during a heavy downpour at about 3:45 p.m. involving a Toyota Hi-Ace van loaded with 12 passengers and an Isuzu truck, popularly known as “double tire” jeepney that also had passengers on board.

The truck driver was identified as Dexter Villarin, 23, of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur while James Entero of Malungon, Sarangani, was behind the wheel of the van.

Gonzales said the van was heading towards Davao City while the truck was bound for GenSan city proper.

GenSan traffic police office identified the fatalities in the van as Maria Entero, 64; Rosario Calmorin, 60; Adelandia Calmorin; Merenie Decenorio, 33; Ricardo Calmorin, 63; Ricardo Entero Jr, 3; and two other children (a boy and a girl) aged one and two years old, all residents of Malungon town.

Killed in the truck were Dominador Calob, 70, and Eduardo Roque, 52.

Five others were seriously injured, including van driver Entero.

Gonzales said the fatalities were declared dead on arrival in various GenSan hospitals.

The truck driver, Villarin, who sustained only minor injuries, was detained and undergoing investigation.