Foreman dies after truck falls off cliff in Pinamungajan, Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A foreman of a construction project in Toledo City, western Cebu never made it home to Dumanjug from his worksite after he was killed in a road accident that also injured nine of his coworkers in the neighboring town of Pinamungajan.

Police in Pinamungajan confirmed that a dump truck carrying eight construction workers from Dumanjug town fell off a cliff in Purok Maria Clara, Barangay Lamac around 1:30 p.m. on August 17.

Initial findings from investigators showed that the truck was heading home to Dumanjug town from their worksite in Toledo City at that time. The driver, identified as Michael Bastida, decided to take a short cut through Barangay Lamac in Pinamungajan.

The vehicle was traversing a curved downhill portion of the road. Bastida attempted to swerve the truck, but it reportedly lost its brake, said Police Staff Sergeant Christian Ortega, officer-in-charge of the Pinamungajan Police Station.

“Padung ni siya og overtake sa motor apan naapikihan man siya [driver] nibrake siya. Pagbrake niya wa naman mosakat. Kurbadahon man na diha nga dulhogon,” said Ortega, when asked why the truck fell off the cliff in the area.

(He was about to overtake a motorcycle when he realized that the space needed to overtake was only a small one and so he decided to step on the brake. But when he did so, he realized that he had no brakes. The road in that area was a curved one heading downhill.)

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As a result, the vehicle sped downhill, fell off a nearby cliff, and all passengers were thrown from the impact.

“Di man kaayo lawom [ang nahulgan], mubo ra kay wa man sila malahos sa ubos. Nasangit man na og kanang kahoy. Kay gikan god sa kalsada natagak sila og mga 10 meters,” Ortega said.

(They did not fall into the bottom of the cliff. It was only a short one from the edge of the cliff. A tree stopped their fall, and they only fell about 10 meters from the side of the road.)

All nine passengers from Dumanjug were taken to the hospital, but their foreman, Jerome Pasignasigna, was declared dead on arrival.

At least 5 of the injured were already released by the hospital while 3 others were still recuperating at the hospital, Ortega said.

Meanwhile, Bastida is currently detained at Pinamungajan Police Station. He may be facing a case of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to property. /clorenciana