CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Seven members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and one retired cop died after a vehicular accident in Purok 11, Barangay Maputi, Naawan, Misamis Oriental on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office identified the fatalities as Staff Sergeants Marjun Reuyan, Jobille Lou Cañeda, Eric Generalao, Michael Ermac, Aaron Ticar, Arnill Manoop, Eugene Ariston Lagcao and retired Staff Sergeant Anito Abapo.
The majority of the fatalities were assigned at the Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, while Ermac was assigned at the Iligan City Police Office.
Meanwhile, the wounded police, including the wing van driver and helper were brought to different hospitals in Misamis Oriental, Iligan City and this city.
Police authorities identified the wing van driver as Benjamin Abubacar Modabpil and his helper, Jamaroddin Baganday.
Initial investigation revealed that the front wheel of the wing van exploded which resulted in collision against the two vans carrying the 32 PNP members including the said retired cop, said Major Reynante Labio, Naawan police officer-in-charge in a phone interview.
“The wing van was traveling to Cagayan de Oro from Iligan. These two vans, where our police were onboard, were traveling to Iligan from CDO,” Labio added in vernacular.
Major Joann Navarro, Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 spokesperson, in a separate phone interview, confirmed that the involved PNP members are currently taking the Public Safety Junior Leadership Course at the Regional Training Center (RTC) 10 in Barangay Patag in this city.
She also confirmed the PNP members involved have ‘privilege pass’ from RTC-10 to go home to their respective places in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental.
The PRO-10, under the leadership of regional director Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop, has assured the necessary assistance to the victims, as well as to the bereaved families of the fatalities.
“We also have a program in PRO-10 initiated by our regional director called ‘Pagtuyok sa Kasakit’ where every member will give an amount in order to provide assistance to the victims,” Navarro added.
Labio said the Naawan police are now preparing for the case filing against the wing van driver.