MAKILALA, North Cotabato (October 6, 2025) — At least 20 passengers, including several students, were injured when a passenger jeepney lost its brakes and plunged into a roadside canal along the national highway at the boundary of Barangay Sinkatulan, Makilala, and Barangay Nueva Vida, M’lang early Monday morning.
According to initial police reports, the jeep bearing plate number LWH 976 came from Sibsib, Tulunan and was bound for Kidapawan City when it lost its brakes and steering control while negotiating a sharp curve around 7:00 a.m. The jeep reportedly sideswiped a motorcycle before crashing into the canal.
Authorities said the jeep was carrying around 20 passengers, many of whom were students from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM)–Kidapawan Campus, Colegio de Kidapawan (CDK), and the Makilala Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). Most of the passengers were residents of Sibsib, Tulunan, and Bagontapay, M’lang on their way to classes and work in Makilala and Kidapawan.
Rescuers immediately rushed the victims to nearby hospitals, including the Makilala Medical Specialist Hospital, where seven passengers were admitted. Reports said two victims remain unconscious, while five others sustained serious injuries. The motorcycle driver also remains in critical condition.
Investigators identified the jeepney driver as Eduardo Ababo of La Esperanza, Tulunan, who reportedly tried to veer the vehicle away from a steep ravine by steering it into the canal—an action that some passengers believe prevented a more tragic outcome.
The Makilala Municipal Police Station and its Traffic Section are conducting an investigation to determine possible mechanical failure and assess accountability. Authorities are also calling on the jeepney operator to coordinate and provide assistance to the victims and their families.
Meanwhile, local officials are reminding drivers to exercise caution when traversing the Sinkatulan–Nueva Vida curve, a known accident-prone area in the province.