IT HAS almost been a week since tragedy struck the southern town of Boljoon.
Seven pupils from three mountain barangay elementary schools and two of their companions were killed when the mini dump truck that was taking them to Poblacion to attend the opening of a district meet fell on its side on Friday, July 19, 2019.
Danilo Niere, the driver, was beside himself with remorse when the bodies of the victims were laid to rest at the public cemetery last Sunday morning.
Niere took responsibility for what happened and said he was ready to accept his fate, not that it’s any consolation to the parents and relatives who suddenly lost a loved one. The dead can’t be brought back to life with a heartfelt apology.
I don’t know if the complaints for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries have already been filed against him. Jail sentence or no, I doubt Niere will be able to fall asleep each night without hearing the wails of the dying and remembering the sight of the mangled young bodies.
I can’t even begin to imagine what is going through his mind right now, but it must involve a lot of “what ifs.”
Trust me, it’s not something I’d wish on anyone. Really... okay, so maybe on my sworn enemies. Still, I don’t think Niere should carry the burden of responsibility alone.
The mini dump truck did belong to the municipality. And someone did order him to pick up the children and their adult companions and bring them to the district meet after someone had made a request for assistance.
Blame should also be heaped on Merlou Derama on account of command responsibility. He is, after all, the town mayor. The buck should stop with him.
But I shouldn’t be playing this game. I know no one wanted the accident to happen. Not Niere. Not the parents and relatives of the victims. Not the municipality. Not the mayor. Not the education officials.
And yet, it did happen. And now seven children and two adults are buried several feet underground.
Maybe it’s time we shift our focus on the survivors. Many are still recuperating from their injuries, some of which may be debilitating. They’ll be scarred for life. Physically and mentally. Some of them admitted during the burial that they would never forget the incident. Remember, many of the survivors are children. It may take years before they can put this tragedy behind them.
And please stop bringing up the ambulance that was recently pulled out from the town. The victims were killed by a mini dump truck owned by the municipality that was driven by, I assume, a municipal employee on orders of a municipal official.
Okay?