Captain Godofredo Tupas, chief of police of the municipality of Antipas, North Cotabato, said that they are still verifying reports that a mother threw her child out to be saved from a burning van on Monday.
Seventeen persons including two children, a 5-year-old and a 6-year-old, were killed when a dump truck loaded with sand and bound for Kidapawan collided with a passenger van in Antipas, North Cotabato Monday noon.
“Pina pa verify pa namin kung sino ang makapagsabi kung totoo ba o hindi kasi nakalulungkot ang nangyari. Hindi namin ma-confirm ang report at kinokumpirma pa naming kung merong witness na may bata na naitapon. Subalit lahat ng bata na involved na aksidente ay namatay,” Tupas told Edge Davao.
Based on reports, the truck driver lost control of the brakes and hit the van.
Tupas said the driver of the truck is now under the custody of Antipas Police Station.
He added that immediate families already identified the victims’ bodies and took their remains from the funeral homes Tuesday afternoon.
Tupas said they are coordinating with the Philippine Army, local government units, and barangay officials for the implementation of the safety measures in the area.
“Nakipag coordinate na rin kami sa Philippine Army at sa local government units at barangay officials na magkaroon sila ng checkpoint sa taas ng bundok sa boundary ng Antipas at President Roxas and to inform sa mga biyahero na mag-ingat palagi kasi accident prone area diyan,” he said.
