CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Three persons were killed, two of them barangay health workers (BHWs), when a hauler truck rammed into a quarantine checkpoint in a village in Maramag town, Bukidnon, late Friday night (March 20), police said Saturday.
Police identified the fatalities as Jomalyn Buhayon and Margie Maribao, who are barangay health workers, and Aldren Gaitera, a village councilor. All were residents of Barangay North Poblacion, Maramag.
Another victim, a certain Beth Lumanca, is in serious condition, police said.
Maramag Police said Buhayon and Maribao were pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Pericles Tamsi, at the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital. Gaitera died later at the La Viña Hospital in Valencia City.
Maramag Police Chief Lt. Col. Casan Ali said the ten-wheeler truck which is used to haul harvested sugarcane, rammed the quarantine checkpoint stationed at Barangay Camp 1 at around 11:45 p.m., fifteen minutes away from the province-wide lockdown imposed by Governor Jose Zubiri, Jr.
After the impact at the checkpoint, the truck continuously sped off and hit two motorcycles and a van parked about 150 meters from the crime scene.
Ali said the truck’s driver, Jemuel Ompoc, 24, a resident of Barangay Kimanait, Pangantucan town, Bukidnon, tried to escape after the incident but was apprehended by police officers and village watchmen.
He said the suspect appeared to be drunk when he was arrested by law enforcers.
Lt. Col. Silvestre Asiong Jr., Bukidnon provincial police spokesperson, said Ompoc will be facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and damage to property.
He said the suspect is now in the custody of the Maramag police awaiting the filing of the case. (davaotoday.com)
