9 injured as bus plunges into a ravine in Ifugao

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Nine passengers were injured as a bus carrying 22 people fell into a deep ravine in the highland province of Ifugao early on Sunday. Investigators said KMS Lines bus (plate number BVE 205) was on its way to Banaue when it plunged 60 meters deep into a gully along Kiangan’s Hucab village at around 4:00 a.m. after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle. Police said the bus driver identified as Milan Alipit, a resident of Anayo village in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya. He initially tried to escape but decided to surrender himself to responding policemen. Doctors at the Ifugao Provincial Hospital where all the 21 passengers were rushed told GMANews.TV that nine of them were still being treated for various injuries. The nine injured passengers were identified as: * Brenda Ponchinlay (of Mayoyao, Ifugao) * Florence Ponchinlay (of Mayoyao, Ifugao) * Elena Bittug (of Asin Road, Baguio City) * PO3 Albert Gupaal (of Baguio City) * Joseph Benhon (of Hungduan, Ifugao) * Nadia Rivas (of Mayoyao, Ifugao) * Argylyn Pindug (of Banaue, Ifugao) * Genevie Daulayan (of Hungduan, Ifugao), and * Salvador Bravo (of Lagawe, Ifugao) Brenda Ponchinlay suffered eight fractured ribs. Her sister, Florence, also injured, said she became scared when she noticed that the bus was running at top speed and nearly collided with some vehicles along the way. “I begged the driver to take it easy since all of us were already scared besides, there are old people on board but he and (his) conductor just looked at each other," Florence said. The other passengers also narrated that they have been asking the driver to slow down but the driver reportedly ignored them. According to the passengers, the bus was navigating a curved road in Hucab village when it suddenly slammed onto an electric post before rolling down the steep ravine. Criminal charges are now being prepared against Alipit who is now in the custody of the Kiangan Police. –VVP, GMANews.TV