NAGUILIAN, Isabela -- A Manila-bound bus hit an electricity post at National Highway in Brgy. San Manuel on Tuesday, Aug. 23, resulting in the death of a couple and injuries to three other passengers.

Police Major Junneil Perez, chief of the Naguilian Philippine National Police, said the bus encountered trouble negotiating a downhill portion that was slippery at the same time.

“Madulas ang daan at pababa ito, kaya marahil tumagilid ang bus, (The road was slippery and downhill, that’s why the bus hit the roadside),” said Major Perez.

Killed in the accident were identified as Myrna Corpuz and her husband Oliver Octario Corpuz of Phase 3 Andres Bonifacio, Diffun, Quirino. The couple died on the spot they were in front of the bus.

Three of the passengers were rushed to the hospital but are now in stable condition. They were identified as Dominador Antolin III of Brgy Dubinan, Arellano Street, Santiago City, Isabela; Marvin Balinag of Angadanan, Isabela and Wilmer Dumo, 28, a resident of Brgy Placer, Benito Soliven, Isabela.

Both Balinag and Dumo are members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The bus driver, Jerome Rivera, 46, of Calaocan, Santiago City, and his conductor, Richelle Dutdut, 43, of Poblacion, Sta Ana, Cagayan, were both unhurt.

The bus which was bound for Sampaloc, Manila, was traversing the national highway heading towards south direction in barangay San Manuel. Upon reaching the descending part of the road, the bus crashed into an electricity post.

“Bumisita lang sa anak nila ang mag-asawa na nasa Tuguegarao City at pabalik na ang mga ito sa Quirino nang maganap ang aksidente (They visited somebody who is Tuguegarao and they were going back to Quirino when the accident happened),” Perez told Manila Bulletin.

The bus driver is now under the custody of Naguilian Philippine National Police for further investigation.