PSC gives aid to Palaro bus crash victims

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will give financial assistance to the families of the Palarong Pambansa delegates who died or were injured in a vehicular accident in Cordon, Isabela, early Tuesday morning. According to a Philippine News Agency report, PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, traveled Wednesday afternoon to Cagayan Valley to hand the assistance of the victims who campaigned in the 2007 Palaro held from April 22 to 29 in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. "Being the partner of Department of Education (DepEd) in grassroots development of sports, the PSC board has approved to extend P20,000 assistance to the relatives of those who died and P10,000 to the injured delegates of the Palaro," Ramirez told the PNA. According to the report, five people including two athletes were killed while 40 others were injured when a bus carrying the Cagayan Palaro delegates lost control after one of its tires burst while negotiating a downhill curve along the national way in Barangay Capirpirwan, Cordon, Isabela. Police reports said that Tuguegarao-bound Florida Liner bus swerved and collided to the oncoming Victory Liner bus bound for Manila. The casualties were identified as Leonardo Adriano, a school principal; Manolo Maguigat, a football trainer; and Shane Apolonio, a high school sepak takraw athlete. A back-up driver of the bus, identified as Jimboy Espejo, also died. The latest to die in the accident was footballer Maynard Anog, who succumbed while in a hospital. Anog's teammate Wayne Difuntorum is still comatose. Teachers Leila Agcaoili and Rogelio Casibang are still under treatment for leg fractures. Due to this accident, the deaths related to this year's Palaro ballooned to seven, including two officials who died due to the searing heat during the annual event. Marinduque high school principal Carlos Minque del Prado and Edwin Gulmatico died of heart failure during the Palaro. - GMANews.TV