It is said that a jeepney driver tried to help the jeep carrying the eight victims when it was swept away by the raging flood in a river in Barangay Sta. Ines in Tanay, Rizal.
In the report of Mav Gonzales in “24 Oras Weekend”, Jumel Argarin said that he did not think that their getting aid would end in tragedy.
Argarin said that two jeeps were hired by the senior citizens to go down the mountain and withdraw aid from the town.
He said the river they passed was shallow and clear. And when he came to the sixth river, his jeep crossed first.
“Kasi sabi ko, parang may inaanod na sanga. Edi ang ginawa ko po, hinintay ko siya sa kabilang ilog. Du’n po sa pinangyarihan ng aksidente. Biglang ragasa po ‘yung tubig, grabe po. Hindi ko po inexpect na ganu’n po ang tubig na masasagupa namin,” said Argarin.
“Kinakable ko po siya, hindi po talaga mabunot gawa po ng parang na-ano siya sa bato. Umabot na po sa stainless na bubong ‘yung tubig, nang makita ko po na dahan-dahan na siyang nakahiga, nag-high na po ako ng ilaw para po [malaman ko]. Bumusina po ako, sabi ko sa mga tao, tulungan niyo puntahan niyo sa likod,” he added.
Driver of jeepney swept by flashflood in Tanay tried to help victims
This Saturday night, seven senior citizens and a 5-year-old child were killed in the accident.
The Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO) identified the victims as Teresita Quinto, Maylard Keith Fernandez, Leonida Doroteo, Salvacion Delgado, Carmen dela Cruz, Esmena Doroteo, Avelino Buera and Teodora Buera.
Tanay, Rizal Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) chief Norberto Francisco Matienzo Jr. said that the jeep came from the town proper and had 25 passengers on board when the accident occurred at 8:15 p.m.
The said jeep was crossing one of the 15 rivers in Tanay when it broke down and was later hit by the raging water in the river.
Based on their passenger master list, he said that everyone on board has been “accounted for” but sometimes there are senior citizens who board even if they are not on the list.
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