7 die, 44 hurt in Pagadian vehicular accident

SEVEN persons were killed while 44 others were wounded in a vehicular accident in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, deputy regional director for administration (DRDA), disclosed the incident happened around 11 a.m. Wednesday at Purok Bajada in the village of Dao, Pagadian City.

De Ocampo identified the fatalities as the following: Dato Genecan, 15; Joselito Genecan, 50; Ernesto Genecan, 48; Mary Joy Genecan, 42; Pecay Florencion Jr., 38; Lenda Baowan, 65; and, Jelou Macatolad, 13.

They were rushed but failed to reach the hospital alive. Those wounded were hospitalized.

Most of the passengers are beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pmilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), who are on the way to claim their cash grant.

Investigation showed the victims were aboard a jeep that fell on its side when the driver, Marlito Palaran, lost control of the steering wheel after its brake malfunctioned while navigating on a descending road in Dao, Pagadian City, De Ocampo said.

He said the jeep, with passengers over its capacity, was traveling to Pagadian City coming from the village of Cogonan, Labangan at the time of the accident. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)