4 banana haulers die in T'boli highway accident

KORONADAL CITY - Four workers of a banana plantation in South Cotabato were killed, two others injuredin a highway mishap Tuesday morning in T'boli, South Cotabato, officials said.T'boli Mayor Dibu Tuan said the Isuzu Elf hauler truck fell on a 200 feet cliff while negotiating a sharp downward portion of the highway in Sitio Kinalom, Barangay Salacafe at 7 a.m. The road was very slippery due to an overnight downpour, Tuan told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida. He identified the fatalities based on the report of Senior Insp. Josie Marie Simangan, T'boli town police chief, asAying Gaje, 27, truck driver and resident of Barangay Leconon, his helpersMarlon Gal, 21, Joemar Lambong and Boy Bisan, all resident of Barangay Salacafe. Wounded were Mark Blaza, 21 of Surallah, South Cotabato and Leo Calonia of Barangay Poblacion, T'boli. They were rushed to separate hospitals inKoronadal City. Investigators are determining if the driver was under the influence of drugs or liquor at the time of the incident.Tuan said the cargo truck and workers of a Davao City-based multi-purpose cooperativewerehired by Sumifro Banana Plantation to transport bananas from T'boli to its processing plant.He said the local government will extend financial assistance to the victims and hospitalization of injured workers.