KABACAN, North Cotabato — Police reported on Tuesday that four individuals died in a road crash here involving a passenger van and two motorcycles on Monday night.
Kabacan Police chief Maj. Maxim Peralta identified the fatalities as Mohaimen Bangkailan and Nasser Mansag Cadulong, the motorbike drivers; and Almina Bangkailan and Kalya Sacanda, their respective back riders.
"The motorcycle-riding victims collided head-on with the passenger van around 8:16 p.m. in Barangay Kayaga here. Our investigation is still ongoing as to who is at fault," Peralta said.
He added that the victims bore serious injuries and were brought to the hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
The driver of the commuter van, Marcelino Zacharias, of Carmen town, Cotabato, was unscathed and was temporarily detained at the Kabacan police lock-up cell, pending the result of the investigation.
Meanwhile, a police officer also died after falling off the Lamitan Bridge in Makilala town.
Lt. Col. Britz Sales, town police chief, identified the victim as Patrolman Florentino Fracsidecio II, a member of the 2nd Mobile Force Company based in Davao Occidental.
"At around 3 a.m., the residents heard a crash, but they have not seen a vehicle on the road nor the bridge," she said.
At 2 p.m. of the same day, a resident who was about to fetch water in the river saw the victim's body submerged in the river's shallow waters.
