5 pastors killed in road mishap

LEGAZPI CITY—Six persons were killed, among them five church leaders returning home from a humanitarian mission in typhoon-ravaged Leyte, when a van collided with a passenger bus before dawn on the national highway in Juban town, Sorsogon.

According to Insp. Malou Calubaquid, Philippine National Police spokesperson in Bicol, the van was negotiating the Daang Maharlika Highway in Sitio Hoyon-Hoyon in Juban when it collided with a Fortune Star bus.

Calubaquid said the six fatalities included the drivers of the two vehicles. They were identified as Rosalito Malig, 56, the van driver, and Danilo Montefalcon, 50, the bus driver.

The four other fatalities were all passengers of the van. They were Alfredo Manansala, 46; Jaime Malabanan, 47; Levy Erasga, 57, and Vicente Clarito, 61, all members of the Calamba Pastor Alliance.

She said the van driver and passengers, who were all from Calamba City, were leaders of various Christian groups such as Jesus Christ the Fountain Living Water Church, Door of Faith, Messiah Mission International Ministries, Church of God and Hope of Glory.

Calubaquid, in a phone interview, said the pastors were on their way back to Calamba City in Laguna after holding a humanitarian mission in Tonga town, Leyte.

Initial investigation showed the van driver may have lost control of the steering wheel or may have fallen asleep causing the vehicle to swerve to the opposite side of the road and collide with the bus at 4: 30 a. m.

The bus was bound for Guiuan, Eastern Samar, from Manila. Its driver was from Sampaloc.

It was packed with passengers going to spend New Year’s in Samar, Calubaquid added.

She said the six fatalities were brought to Hadoc Funeral Homes in Juban for autopsy.

She said five bus passengers were injured and rushed to the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital for treatment. They were identified as Ronalyn Dosa, 19; Alvin Ruiz, 21; Angelika Pagasertonga, 33; Boy Navarrosa, 52, and Analiza Macapanas, 33. They were from Manila and Samar.