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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

COA lawyer dies in NoCot highway mishap, 11 others hurt

Philippines

COA lawyer dies in NoCot highway mishap, 11 others hurt

By Philippine News Agency

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato — A lawyer was killed while 11 others were hurt when a transport vehicle of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BFP-BARMM) figured in a highway mishap in Alamada, North Cotabato, fire officials said Wednesday, November 17.

“The van fell into a cliff about 20 meters deep,” Major Brian Espinoza, Alamada town police chief, told reporters here.

ILL-FATED. Photo shows the Bureau of Fire Protection vehicle that figured in a road accident in Alamada, North Cotabato on Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2021). Rescue workers (inset) worked fast to bring all victims to the hospital but a lawyer died in the mishap. (Photo courtesy of BFP-BARMM/Manila Bulletin)

The victims, two personnel from Commission on Audit (COA-BARMM) and 10 BFP-BARMM personnel, were on board a coaster van heading to Cotabato City from Wao, Lanao del Sur when the accident occurred around 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Jerry Lamanero, BFP-BARMM director, said the victims, including lawyer Minerva Sacar-Guiling of COA-BARMM, had just conducted an Operational Readiness Site Inspection (ORSITE) in Wao, Lanao del Sur when the incident happened.

He said the crash site in Barangay Barangiran is an accident-prone portion of the Wao-Cotabato highway.

Espinoza said Guiling expired in the hospital.

The 10 fire officers and the other COA personnel were injured and are now undergoing medication at a hospital in Alamada.

Espinoza said the initial investigation showed that the brake system of the coaster van malfunctioned causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle while negotiating down the steep road.

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