DepEd to probe death of three Masbate students

By Mar S. Arguelles

The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol said on Monday, Oct. 11, that it will condiuct an investigation about the death of three elementary school students who were hit by a wayward truck while holding online classes on Sunday (Oct. 10) afternoon in Placer town in Masbate province.

Mark Kevin Arroco of the Department of Education (DepEd) public affairs office, said their office has yet to receive a report from the Masbate provincial DepEd superintendent.

He said an investigation would be conducted as a standard procedure about the tragic incident particularly on the issue of why were the victims holding online classes on a Sunday.

The police report said at least three elementary school students while holding online classes have died on the spot on Sunday afternoon when a wayward truck ran them over in Placer town in Masbate province.

Police Master Sergeant Romulo Tambago said the three victims, all-female whose ages range from 10 to 16, were students of the Matagangtang National High school.

Tambago said the suspect Jomar Tanael, 30, driver of a ten-wheeler truck was negotiating a road in Purok 9, Barangay Matagantang at around 3:45 PM when he lost control of the steering wheel and hit a porch of a house with internet connectiion where the victims were reportedly holding online classes.

The ten-wheeler truck used to haul sand and gravel aggregates is owned by an engineer from Masbate City. It was on its way to Cataingan town from Milagros.

The truck driver is under police custody for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.