On Sunday, April 18, 2021, two alive but thirteen were reported dead after a sports utility vehicle falls into an irrigation canal in Barangay Bulo, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Unfortunately, most of the lives lost in his horrific accident were children.
The SUV was a Ford Everest with the Plate No. AAK 9184 unexpectedly plunged into the canal and sank deep into the water, according to Davy Limmong, Kalinga PNP Provincial Director.
The driver was 36-year-old Soy Lope Agtulao, a Jail Officer 1 and BJMP personnel. He is a resident from Cagubatan, Tadian, Mountain Province.
The initial investigation revealed that around 6:00 PM on Sunday, Agtulao and the other 14 passengers traveled to Bulo Lake. It’s is among the most popular tourist spots within the city. As Agtulao was driving the SUV, the vehicle veered off, and fell into the irrigation canal.
Limmong stated that the eleven victims, four of which are males and seven are females, were dead upon arrival. The attending physician from the Mejia Kim Medical Center in Barangay Agbannawag, Tabuk City, confirmed it.
The two other victims were rushed to another hospital in Barangay Bulanao, Tabuk City, the Kalinga Provincial Hospital. Unfortunately, both were also declared DOA.
The lives lost in this tragic incident were Agtulao, Sywin Agtulao, Sidewyn Agtulao, and Sonnie Lope. The other casualties were Judilyn Talawec Dumayon, Jessiebel Paycao, 3-yr-old Scarlet, Remedios Longey Basilio, Alfredo Cotit Lope, 4-yr-old Jeslyn, 5-yr-old Sedarn, Cydric Paycao, and Marlo Perenia.
Cyrel Agtulao and Edith Perez, the two survivors, are now observed at an undisclosed hospital.