Mayor, companion killed in Ilocos car crash

BAGUIO (Updated, 3:23 p.m.) - A town mayor in Apayao and her body guard died in a tragic car accident in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, early Saturday morning.

Chief Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, regional police chief, identified the fatalities as Mayor Betty Verzola of Luna town and her bodyguard Marlon Taclibon.

Three others were injured including Luna town Vice Mayor Josephine Bangsil, municipal planning and development officer Millette Agustin, and driver Benito Ildefonso.

Marquez said the victims' red Mitsubishi Montero Sport was travelling on a highway at Sitio Mabiga West, Barangay Pasaleng around 1:20 a.m. when the vehicle swerved after hitting a cow that suddenly appeared on the road.

TOTAL WRECK. The red Mitsubishi Montero with government plate number SKP-730 crashed into a rice field in Pagudpus, Ilocos Norte, carrying Luna, Apayao town Mayor Betty Verzola and personal aide Marlon Taclibon. Also injured in the accident were Luna vice-mayor Josephine Bangsil, municipal planning and development officer Millette Agustin and driver Benito Ildefonso who are recuperating at Mariano Marcos Hospital in Batac, Ilocos Norte. (Photo courtesy of Police Supt. Tirso Manoli/Apayao PPO)

The 65-year-old town mayor was declared dead on arrival by attending physician, Dr. Susana Villaros, due to head injuries and multiple contusions and abrasions.

Bangsil sustained contusions and abrasions on different parts of her body while Agustin sustained suffered from pains. They were transferred to Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital together with the driver who also sustained multiple abrasions for further treatment.

Initial investigation of the Pagudpud Municipal Police Office disclosed the ill-fated vehicle veered off on the left shoulder of the highway after hitting a calf crossing the road resulting in the vehicle's crashing into a rice field.

The calf owned by a certain Jayson Ramos also died as a result of the collision. The vehicle was a total wreck after the accident, police said.

Verzola and her companions just came from a seminar for Enhancing Proficiency of Local Chief Executives and Newly Elected Officials last June 20 to 21 organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government in Baguio city. She was among the speakers who imparted her experience as a long time municipal mayor to more than 40 newly elected government officials Thursday and was about to go home to Apayao when the accident happened. (VR/JM Agreda of Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)

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