Van carrying tourists falls into creek in Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — A passenger van carrying 12 people, some of them foreign tourists, met an accident in Barangay Tagumpay, Roxas, northern Palawan.

The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. on the National Highway in Purok 5, as confirmed by Palawan Provincial Information Officer Atty. Christian Jay Cojamco.

Cojamco said Thursday the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Roxas said the Toyota Hi-Ace van was traveling on 3 January from El Nido to Puerto Princesa City. While navigating a sharp curve, the van, alternately driven by Adrian Demohina, 34, and Christopher Empig, 47, veered off the road and fell into a creek.

The van was carrying six foreign nationals and four local passengers from Barangay Sibaltan, El Nido. Despite the accident, only minor bruises and injuries were reported among the passengers, while both drivers were unharmed.

"Among the passengers, two suffered minor injuries and were promptly treated on-site by the responding team from Palawan Rescue," he said.

The Roxas MDRRMO and Palawan Rescue responded quickly to the scene and provided treatment to those injured.

Meanwhile, Major Ric Ramos, spokesperson for the Palawan Police Provincial Office, disclosed in a police report that the van, at the time of the accident, was under the control of driver Demohina.

"While traversing a sharp curve at the location of the incident, the vehicle veered off to the left side of the road and fell and submerged into the water," Ramos said.

The damaged vehicle remains at the accident site, with the extent of the damage still being assessed, and an ongoing investigation points to the sharp curve as a likely contributing factor to the accident.