Nine employees of the Bayawan City local government unit in Negros Oriental were killed Wednesday morning after the dump truck they were riding in plunged off a roadside embankment in Sitio Mansintak, Barangay Kalamtukan.
Police said the crash happened around 11 a.m. on Feb. 4 as the truck was traveling along a downhill section of the road. Initial findings showed the vehicle’s brakes reportedly failed, causing the truck to overshoot and fall into the embankment.
Authorities identified the fatalities as Diomedes Canoy, Kervin Andog, Larry Llamos, Ronel Cabasag, Jonathan Hamor, Jovanie Babor, Jonaryl Caguisa, Warren Aseñas and the driver, Egmedio Arnaiz.
Police Capt. Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, said the victims had just delivered fuel to Barangay Mandu-ao before the incident occurred.
The truck was reportedly heading back when it encountered the steep, descending portion of the road where the brake malfunction happened, according to investigators.
The incident has raised concerns over vehicle safety, particularly for heavy trucks traveling through sloping rural roads in the province.
Authorities said an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the brake failure and whether other factors contributed to the deadly crash.
Police have not released further details as they continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Local officials and the victims’ families are awaiting the results of the investigation.
