Seven law graduates from the University of San Carlos (USC), their driver and two others were hurt after a passenger bus hit the sport utility vehicle they were riding along the national highway in Gerona, Tarlac province, on Wednesday, police said.Senior Insp. Crescencio Cuaresma, Gerona police chief, said the victims — Michael Abad, 24; Rocel Gallo, 25; Honey Ang, 24; Andre Seno (identified as Andrei Sina in the police report), 24; Maria Carmen Tomis, 25; Alexa Lelis, 24; and Jerome Abayen, 24; and their driver, Ryan Yap, 35 — were on their way to Metro Manila when the accident happened in barangay Poblacion 3 about 5:30 a.m. Alex Monteclar, dean of the of the USC College of Law, said he was informed by Andre Seno's father, former Mandaue City mayor Amadeo Seno.
He said he only knew that Andre broke his leg and would probably be airlifted from Manila to Cebu City. Cuaresma said the group came from a tour of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
He said the victims' Kia SUV occupied the opposite lane and was sideswiped by a northbound Genesis Bus driven by Eladio Balatbat. It was the next vehicle, a Dominion Bus driven by Cesar Añonuevo, which hit the victims' car, Cuaresma said. He said the victims were taken to the Tecson Hospital in Tarlac City for treatment. They were released about 1 p.m. also on Wednesday. /INQUIRER WITH REPORTER DALE G. ISRAEL |
