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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider 2 photogs killed as SUV swept away by river in Benguet

2 photogs killed as SUV swept away by river in Benguet

Published Mar 27, 2026 09:50 pm
TWO people were killed when their vehicle was swept away by a rampaging river in Benguet Friday. (Photo via Zaldy Comanda)
TWO people were killed when their vehicle was swept away by a rampaging river in Benguet Friday. (Photo via Zaldy Comanda)
BAGUIO CITY – Two photographers were killed and four others were injured when their Sports Utility Vehicle was swept away by the Agno River on Friday afternoon, March 27, in Sitio Tabu, Barangay Dalupirip, Itogon, Benguet.
The fatalities were identified as Rodolfo Tan, 68, and Neil Clark Ongchanco,  a photographer of the Baguio City Public Information Office.
Injured were colleagues Ren Munoz, 45; Eliza Consul, 59; Conrado Rotor, 66, and Randy Benigno, 49.
The victims, who were on their way home from an outreach activity at Tabu Elementary School, Dalupirip, Itogon, to this city, when the incident happened, were all residents here.
The Itogon Municipal Police Station said that the vehicle of the victims driven by Tan was crossing a river at around 1 p.m. when the water level rose.
The vehicle was overpowered by the strong current and carried 100 meters away downstream where it stopped and half-submerged. People were able to get the victims out of the vehicle and were taken to a hospital.
Tan was declared dead at the Itogon District Hospital at 3:35 p.m. due to traumatic injuries. The body of Ongchanco, who was first reported missing and believed to have drowned, was found at around 7 p.m.
The injured are recovering in a hospital. Media men here are mourning the deaths of the victims.

Related Tags

Drowning Deaths Accident Itogon Benguet Photographers
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