Barangay Bus Carrying Children Fell Off a Ravine

A mini bus of Barangay Basak Pardo carrying 30 minors fell off a ravine in San Carlos Heights, Barangay Basak-Pardo, Cebu City at around 9 am Wednesday.

CITOM executive director Joy Tumulak said there were those who sustained injuries but only minor ones. He said they were immediately rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center. No one was killed in the incident but some student suffered fractures. Tumulak said the children, aged 6 to 17, and mostly from grades 5 and 6, were on their way to attend a seminar sponsored by the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children organized by the barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan.

According to a witness, the bus was climbing up when it suddenly lost control and went down. Bus driver Christiniano Palabrica, 44, said the Basak Pardo mini bus always underwent a regular check and was in good condition. Palabrica claimed that the steering wheel was suddenly not moving when he steered the bus away from the cliff, and when he tried to hit the brake, it failed to function.