TABUK CITY,Kalinga -- Thirteen people died, most of them children, while two others survived after a sports utility vehicle fell into an irrigation canal Sunday afternoon, April 18 in Barangay Bulo, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Kalinga PNP Provincial Director Davy Limmong said a Ford Everest with Plate No. AAK 9184 accidentally fell into the irrigation canal and later submerged into the water.
The vehicle was driven by Jail Officer 1 Soy Lope Agtulao, a 36-year-old BJMP personnel and a resident of Cagubatan, Tadian, Mountain Province.
Limmong said 11 victims, seven of them female and four males were pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician at Mejia Kim Medical Center in Barangay Agbannawag,Tabuk City.
The two other victims were declared dead on arrival at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk City.
Initial investigation said that at about 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Agtulao together with 14 other passengers were on their way to the Bulo Lake, a popular tourist spot in the city, when it swerved and fell into the canal.
Those who were killed were the driver, Sidewyn Agtulao, Sywin Agtulao and Sonnie Lope, while the nine casualties from Purok 1, Bulanao, Tabuk City are Jessiebel Paycao, three-year-old Scarlet; 31-ywar-old Judilyn Talawec Dumayon, Alfredo Cotit Lope, Remedios Longey Basilio, 59; five-year-old Sedarn; Jeslyn, 4; Marlo Perenia and Paycao Cydric.
The two survivors, Edith Perez and Cyrel Agtulao are being observed at an unnamed hospital.