16 people injured as jeep falls 100 meters down Quezon cliff

A passenger jeepney fell some 100 meters down a roadside cliff in Pagbilao, Quezon before dawn on Wednesday, leaving 16 people injured.

An initial police investigation shows that the passenger jeepney rammed the road barrier before falling off a Zigzag Road in Barangay Silangang Malicboy, Pagbilao, Quezon.

Police Col. Joel Villanueva, director of Quezon Police Provincial Office, said the victims were coming from a wedding party in San Jose, Camarines Sur, and were on their way home to  Dasmariñas, Cavite when the accident took place.

Photos courtesy of Pagbilao MPS

Based on initial information, the brakes malfunctioned and the jeep rammed through the barriers and into the cliff.

According to the police, the rescuers had difficult time not only because the cliff was deep, but also the rescue operation was done in a dense thicket under the cover of darkness at dawn.  

The victims, including the driver identified as Ronnel Francia, were rushed to the Quezon Medical Center in Lucena City.

List of the names of 12 of the 16 victims from Police Regional Office-4A:

• Benz Jomar Fuentes, 23
• John Cedric Gardon, 15
• Gina Lozano, 52
• Sharmaine Corino, 26
• Noli Francia, 18
• Beah Grace Camacho, 10
• Anabel Camacho
• Jose Camacho
• Cherry Samson
• Solen Samson
• Analyn Arnejo
• Ronel Francia, 28, the driver

Most of the victims had head injury and bone fracture, authorities said, adding that the police have not reported any fatality from the incident. —Peewee Bacuño/LBG, GMA News