BY MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO – Sixteen employees were injured after an L-300 van fell into a 30-meter-deep ravine in Barangay Maliao, Leon town around 4:45 p.m. on Monday, June 3.
The driver and his 15 passengers, all employees of Maridan Industry, were rushed to the Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian town.
On Monday night, four of the victims were transferred to the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City and three to the Metro Iloilo Hospital in Jaro district.
Police Captain John Pedric Padilla, chief of the Leon Municipal Police Station (MPS), said as of Monday night all victims were in stable condition with no major injuries reported.
Padilla also said that the company has committed to shoulder all medical and hospital expenses of the victims. He added that none of the passengers has shown interest in filing a case against the driver.
According to the investigation of the Leon MPS, the victims were on their way home from Bucari where they had a team building when the accident happened.
Padilla said the driver lost control of the van while descending a slope, possibly due to a brake failure, which caused it to swerve erratically before plunging into the ravine.
Following the accident, the Leon Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) requested additional ambulances from neighboring towns.
The municipalities of Alimodian, Pavia, Santa Barbara, San Miguel, and Tigbauan immediately responded.
Additionally, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office dispatched its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to assist in the rescue operation./PN
