5 die as cargo truck falls in North Cotabato cliff

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Truck driver and four of his crew died while six others were injured when the vehicle lost its brakes while maneuvering a blind curve along the highway in Aleosan, North Cotabato, around 530 p.m., Wednesday, police officer said.Senior Inspector Edwin Abantes, chief of the Aleosan PNP, identified those that died on-the-spot as Anwar Ampatuan, 35, truck driver Jorge Demalanes, 60 and Fredo Anliwa.The two others, who are still unidentified, remained at the morgue of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City, reports said.Injured are identified as Dagno Crisanto, Lagno Mobindo, Reynaldo Romeo Tungcar, Abdullah Abdurahman, Janie Matandes, all residents of Barangay Minarapan, Carmen.Initial investigation of the traffic division of the Aleosan PNP showed the truck lost its brakes when the driver tried to maneuver a blind curve along the highway Barangay New Leon.The truck was fully loaded with sugar cane products from Barangay New Panay, also in Aleosan, and was headed towards Carmen town when the accident happened.Abantes hinted mechanical defect triggered the truck to malfunction.The area, he added, is considered accident-prone and ‘killer highway.’MALU CADELINA MANAR