5 dead, 1 injured after truck falls off cliff

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Five persons died while another was seriously injured after a truck loaded with 104 pigs fell off a cliff at Sitio Salngan, Barangay Mayabon, Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental Friday afternoon.

Killed were Nenita Olivar, and her employees – siblings Tito and Edgardo Ramirez, Boboy Maglukot, and Rusty James Rafael Suonaray – all residents of Tanjay City.

Wounded was Olivar’s husband, Berto, 47, who drove the truck.

Police Captain Danilo Santillan, town police chief, said the truck came from Negros Occidental and was on its way home around 12:15 p.m. when the driver lost control over the vehicle due to mechanical trouble.

Santillan said Berto’s wife was seated in the front passenger seat while their employees were at the back.

The truck fell off a 50-foot high cliff and slammed on a dried up creek, he added.

The rescue operation lasted for 45 minutes, Santillan said.

All of the victims suffered head injuries and fractures.

Five of them were declared dead at a hospital.

Only Berto is still confined.

Santillan said 44 of the 104 pigs were dead. The remaining pigs were already brought by Olivar’s family to Tanjay City.

The couple is into the buy-and-sell business.