A memorial mass was held at the Villareal Gym to honor the nine fatalities on Thursday.*Romeo Subaldo photo
Bayawan City has postponed the opening salvo of the Tawo-tawo Festival 2026 and the Miss Bayawan 2026 presentation night to mourn the tragic deaths of eight government employees and an on-the-job trainee student.
Following careful consideration of the developing Tropical Storm “Basyang” and the city’s period of mourning, the city government announced that both events, originally scheduled for Saturday, have been rescheduled to February 9.
“Let us continue to show our Bayawanihan during these trying times,” the local government stated.
On Thursday, a memorial mass was held at the Villareal Gym to honor the nine fatalities.
The victims were identified as driver Egmedio Arnaiz, along with Diomedes L. Canoy, Kervin Andog, Larry Llamos, Ronel Cabasag, Jonathan Hamor, Jovanie Babor, and Jonaryl Caguisa — all employees of the Bayawan City Agriculture Office–Engineering Division.
Also among the deceased was Warren Arseñas, an on-the-job trainee from the Negros Oriental State University Bayawan–Sta. Catalina Campus.
The tragedy occurred at 11:10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, when the dump truck the victims were riding plunged into a deep ravine in Sitio Mansintak, Brgy. Kalamtukan, Bayawan, Negros Oriental.
Bayawan Police Chief Lt. Col. Joeson Parallag noted that while a driver miscalculation is a possible cause, authorities are still conducting a thorough investigation.
He said there were no witnesses to the crash, as all passengers on the vehicle perished in the accident.
The vehicle has since been recovered and is undergoing inspection to determine if a mechanical failure contributed to the plunge.
Bayawan Mayor John Raymond Jr. said that the city employees lost in the accident included four junior mechanics, two drivers, and two helpers.
He assured that both the Bayawan and Negros Oriental governments are committed to providing full assistance to the families of the victims during this difficult time.*
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