KABAYAN, Benguet – A municipal councilor from Tinoc, Ifugao died while his five companions were injured after their vehicle plunged into a 50-meter deep ravine at Sitio Mangkew, barangay Pacso, here, afternoon of September 5.
Police authorities identified the fatality as Councilor Mercury Caridad Binwihan of Tinoc, Ifugao, 54, married and a resident of Impugong, Tinoc, Ifugao.
On the other hand, his injured companions were named as Norwin Polon Carpio, 34 years old, teacher, married and a resident of Poblacion, Kapangan, Benguet; Jonathan Wakat Binwihan, 20 years old, single, student and a resident of Impogong, Tinoc, Ifugo; Elsa Tabingan Paeng, 52 years old, farmer, married and a resident of Nabalicong, Buguias, Benguet; Analiza Paeng Carpio, 32 years old, teacher, married, and a resident of Natubleng Buguias, Benguet; and Leizel Ann Pael Dulnuan, 25 years old, engineer, married, and a resident Asin, Tuba, Benguet.
Initial police investigation showed that the victims came from La Trinidad and were proceeding towards Sitio Mangkew to attend the wake of a relative when the vehicle driver allegedly miscalculated a curve along the way that caused him to lose control of the vehicle causing it to plunged into the deep ravine.
Responding residents and personnel of the Kabayan Municipal Police station, Bureau of fire Protection (BFP) Kabayan, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRO) immediately conducted rescue operations and rushed the victim to the Kabayan Rural Health Unit where the lone fatality died while being provided with close medical supervision.
By Dexter A. See