Van carrying Jolo athletic delegation plunges into a cliff; 1 killed, 11 injured

By Hirohito D. Cadion

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 10 (PNA) -– A public school teacher was killed while 11 others were injured when a van carrying an athletic delegation from Jolo plunged into a cliff Sunday morning in Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Buug police station commander Insp. Roex Quierrez said the accident took place around 11:30 a.m. Sunday along the national highway in Barangay Bulaan of said municipality.

He said the Jolo athletic delegation were bound for Marawi City via Zamboanga City to participate in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (ARMMAA) meet that kicked off Monday, February 10.

Quierrez said the van plunged into the cliff after its driver, Abdulajid Lukman, 41, lost control of the steering wheel while negotiating a curve in Barangay Bulaan in Buug.

He said Lukman and his 11 companions aboard the van were part of the Sulu Athletic delegation to the ARMMAA meet.

Quierrez said that Lukman, a teacher, died on the spot while the 11 others were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The ARMAA is anchored on the theme “Bridging Gaps Towards Unity through Sports.”

Quierrez said that except for Abdulajid, the other victims include six athletes, a school supervisor, a school principal, a head teacher, a teacher, and a school nurse.

ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman immediately provided assistance to the victims, he said. (PNA)
TPGJR/HDC/UTB