Three killed, two hurt as truck flips in Tubungan, Iloilo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Three construction workers were killed after the truck they were riding flipped on its side on the evening of March 20 in Tubungan, Iloilo.

Police identified the victims only by their aliases: Raygene, 36, and Ronel, 38, both of Banate, Iloilo; and Rhian, 40, of Barotac Viejo town.

The incident also wounded Jovem, 30, of Maasin, Iloilo, and Michael, 20, of Antique province.

The truck driver, alias Jerson, 31, of Barangay Manampunay, Leon, and a certain Frederick survived the incident.

According to reports, the seven came from Tubungan town proper and were heading toward their barracks at Barangay Buenavista, Tubungan, when the incident happened.

As the Sino six-wheeler truck was navigating Barangay San Jose, Tubungan at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve.

The truck, which was carrying a tank filled with water, flipped on its side, and the three fatalities were pinned underneath.

Jerson, who suffered only an abrasion, and Frederick managed to jump off the vehicle.

Jovem and Michael were immediately brought to Repz Pedro Trono District Hospital in Guimbal town for treatment.

Tubungan responders had to extract the three victims from the wrecked vehicle.

Tubungan is a mountainous municipality in the province’s 1st District, located along winding inland roads that connect Iloilo’s southern coastal towns to its interior communities, making vehicular accidents involving heavy trucks a recurring hazard in the area.

Capt. Lunelyn Talamillo, Tubungan police chief, said Jerson was placed under custody but was released after the reglementary period of detention had lapsed.

Under Philippine law, a person arrested without a warrant must be delivered to the proper judicial authority within prescribed periods, typically 12 to 36 hours depending on the severity of the offense, after which the detainee must be released if no charges have been formally filed.

The families of the victims have decided not to pursue charges against Jerson.

They have already executed an affidavit of desistance.

An affidavit of desistance is a sworn statement in which the complainant declares they are no longer interested in pursuing a case, although under Philippine law, prosecutors may still file charges if they determine that the evidence warrants prosecution regardless of the complainant’s withdrawal.