THE bodies of the seven Filipino-American doctors and nurses who perished in a car accident in Alegria town Saturday afternoon have been brought to a funeral parlor in Cebu City.
Of the seven, three bodies were claimed by their families, a staff member of the St. Peter Memorial Homes in Imus, Cebu City, said Sunday, January 21.
The body of Aurora Gagni was claimed by a family member Sunday morning, Kevin of St. Peter-Imus said. One more body was claimed by relatives from the United States, and another by family from Manila.
The bodies of the seven were brought to the funeral house Saturday night.
Senior Police Officer 3 Edward Villarte said no one has filed a complaint against the driver, Gilbert Adlawan dela Cruz, who is now being held at the Alegria Police Station, as of Sunday noon.
The police are waiting for complainants to support the filing of charges.
Dela Cruz will likely face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and serious physical injuries, Villarte said.
Gagni and six others died in a vehicular accident Saturday noon when their hired van rammed into a mahogany tree in Barangay Legaspi, Alegria.
The driver admitted he fell asleep during the trip. He denied he used drugs but admitted he lacked sleep after driving for the past four days.
The fatalities who died on the spot were identified as Gagni, Joseph Huang, Juvella Huang, Nunilo Rubio, Rey Pascual and Berniti Rojas. Diana Pascual died at the Malabuyoc District Hospital.
Three injured passengers are now admitted at a private hospital in Cebu City. They are Elenita Rubio, Leonor Tsai and Fred Chai.
The group was supposed to go to Camiguin island on Monday, January 22, for a medical mission. Another group of nurses and doctors was in a separate van.
Senior Inspector Efren Diaz Jr. of the Alegria Police Station said the victims arrived in Cebu at 3 a.m. Saturday and went to Oslob for whale-shark watching. They were on their way to Kawasan Falls in Badian, Cebu, when they had the accident. (Vanessa L. Almeda/SunStar Philippines)