June 9 to 15, 2012

Jeep to school 

kills student

A blue and white Mitsubishi jeepney fell into a ditch and flipped over on its way to school on June 13. The PUV with plate no. FVJ-909 had 10 teachers and around 14 students on board when its brake malfunctioned at Sitio Walos, Barangay Bagonbon.

Jeffrey Paz, 15, a high school student of Bagonbon National High School was declared dead on arrival at San Carlos Doctor's Hospital while 24 other passengers including the driver, Michael Baraquia, were injured.

Based on police traffic investigation report, the jeepney had swerved to the left shoulder of the road while going down slope as its brake malfunctioned. It crashed into a mountainside before it turned turtle injuring the ten students who were riding on its roof.

During an interview at the San Carlos City Police Station, Baraquia said that they left San Carlos City Terminal at around 6:15 in the morning and 15 to 20 minutes before arrival, the jeep suddenly lost its brake. The 33-year old driver explained that he decided to hit the side of the mountain so the vehicle would stop.

"Gibangga na lang nako sa bukid ug dili sa ubos na mi. Pirte na man gyud laluma. Patay gyud unta mi tanan," he said.

Jocelyn Sumilhig, principal of Bagonbon National High School, and Betchy Ardiente, 15, high school student, were brought to Bacolod City for treatment. Based on initial report, Sumilhig was no longer able to move her body after she was rescued.

Three other teachers sustained injuries namely Eva Benlot, who is pregnant, Jerlinda Deocampo and Josephine Sandag.

Although he admitted that the students were already on the jeep's roof, Baraquia refused to concede that his PUV was overloaded. He said that most of the passengers were his patrons especially the teachers.     He also claimed that he was only driving on the second gear since the road to Barangay Bagonbon proper is difficult to negotiate with deep curves and slopes.

After he was rescued by fellow jeep and habal-habal drivers, Baraquia surrendered to Barangay Captain Salvador Villanueva of Agpangi, Calatrava who then turned him over to the Calatrava Municipal Police Station. Baraquia and the jeep's owner Edgar Alquizar are both from the said barangay.

The driver is under custody of the SCCPO as he awaits if the victims will file legal action or allow settlement with  Alquizar.