DTI exec hurt, 2 killed in Mindoro car accident

MANILA, Philippines - A regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was injured while his two daughters were killed when their vehicle slammed into a cargo truck in Occidental Mindoro before dawn Wednesday. Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, director of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) Regional Police, said Joel Valera - DTI regional director of MIMAROPA - was rushed to the San Jose Hospital in Occidental Mindoro after sustaining serious injuries. Palmera said his daughters Joelle Dominique Valera, 20, a fresh graduate of the University of the Philippines; and Joelle Cecilia Valera, 18, a student of the same university died in the accident. Quoting field reports, Palmera said the Nissan Terrano driven by the DTI official hit the left rear portion of a 10-wheeler that was parked along a portion of the highway in Brgy. Bubog in San Jose town at around 12:20 a.m. “The Valeras were going home to San Jose from Manila when the incident happened," said Palmera. Palmera said the Nissan Terrano was almost wrecked due to the impact of the collision. The driver of the truck, identified as Leandro Giron, was collared by the police and will be slapped with appropriate criminal charges, said Palmera. - GMANews.TV