COTABATO, Philippines — What was supposed to be a routine delivery of cement ended in tragedy after a truck reportedly suffered a mechanical failure and crashed along a highway in Makilala, Cotabato, killing two men and injuring its driver.
The accident happened on Friday, August 28, along an uphill stretch of the Cotabato-Davao Highway in Purok Centro, Barangay Malasila, according to authorities.
Police identified the fatalities as truck helpers Edwin Quiretan and Felipe Datulayta, while the injured driver was identified as Mark Obatay.
Authorities said the truck was carrying bags of cement from Davao City and was headed for towns in Cotabato province when its brake system reportedly malfunctioned as Obatay navigated the uphill section of the highway.
With the driver reportedly unable to maintain control, the large truck struck a roadside powerline post, rolled over and landed on its side.
The two helpers were rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to their injuries, while Obatay suffered wounds and contusions and remains confined for treatment.
A Delivery That Never Reached Its Destination
The truck had been transporting cement intended for buyers in different areas of Cotabato province when the deadly accident unfolded.
Makilala Municipal Police chief Lt. Col. Tristan Vergel Sablada said the initial findings pointed to a brake malfunction as the truck negotiated the uphill stretch. Authorities have not publicly released further details on the mechanical condition of the vehicle or whether additional factors may have contributed to the crash.
Local officials in Makilala and the office of Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza are expected to assist in bringing the remains of the victims home. Quiretan’s family is in Banisilan, while Datulayta’s family is in Midsayap, both in Cotabato province.
Road Safety Concerns Remain in the Spotlight
The latest tragedy comes amid a series of serious road accidents reported in Cotabato and nearby areas in recent months. Earlier this year, four people were killed and dozens were injured in a separate truck-related crash in Aleosan, Cotabato, highlighting the devastating consequences that major vehicle accidents can have on communities.
On August 17, another road crash in nearby South Cotabato left two people dead and several others injured after a vehicle plunged into a ravine, according to separate reports.
While those incidents are unrelated to the Makilala crash, they underscore the continuing importance of vehicle maintenance, road safety and careful driving, particularly for heavy vehicles traveling on challenging stretches of highway.
For the families of Quiretan and Datulayta, however, the focus is now on a far more personal loss: a workday and a delivery that began like any other — but ended in tragedy.
Authorities may release further information as the circumstances surrounding the crash are reviewed.
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