2 CIDG men in N Cotabato die in road crash

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Two members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in North Cotabato on board a motorcycle and the driver of an L-300 van were killed after their vehicles collided Friday afternoon. The authorities identified the casualties as P02 Niel Gaspar Lasia, chief investigator of CIDG Cotabato, PO1 Nestor Labaosas, and the L-300 van driver as a certain Radjack Suliek. At least 12 passengers of the L-300 van were also wounded. Based on reports of the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office, the incident happened around 2:40 p.m. last April 18. The two members of the CIDG were on board a Honda XRM motorcycle driven by Labaosas. The two CIDG members reportedly encountered the L-300 van that was over taking an Isuzu Forward at high speed in the vicinity of Takipan, Pikit in North Cotabato. It then collided with the motorcycle killing the two policemen on the spot. Due to the collision, the driver of the L-300 van lost control of the vehicle and smashed into the concrete perimeter fence of Takipan Elementary School resulting to his own death and the injury of his 12 passengers. The 12 wounded passengers of the van were immediately brought to the nearest hospital for medical treatment. The Traffic Management Unit in North Cotabato is still conducting an investigation. - Sun.Star Davao