POLICE Regional Office (PRO)11 director, Brigadier General Filmore B. Escobal said that six of the eight members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion who were hurt in a road accident in Digos City in Davao del Sur on Friday noon have been discharged from the hospital after getting the doctor’s clearance.

The two others however will undergo surgery after sustaining bone fractures when the patrol vehicle carrying them developed mechanical trouble and fell down a 300-meter deep ravine in Sitio Lugatan in Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City.

Escobal said the eight were provided with full medical care and support by personnel from the Regional Medical and Dental Unit and a specialist from the Camp Sergeant Quintin M. Merecido Hospital.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar dispatched police helicopters to transport the victims to the hospital following the crash.

On Saturday, the top cop, joined by Escobal and PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia visited the wounded policemen at the RDMU infirmary.

Gen. Eleazar provided financial assistance to the eight and ordered Escobal to fully take care of them.

Brig. Gen. Escobal said they were fortunate enough to have medical facilities like the

CSQMMH and RMDU infirmary which were built to give prompt and timely care as well as assistance to members of the regional police force in need of medical attention and whi can’t afford the bills in private hospitals.

The Southern Mindanao police director said the Digos City incident showcased the importance of the PNP Air Unit and hospitals being supervised by the police.

“The circumstances depicted in the field rescue of our injured personnel conducted by the PNP Air Unit in Lutangan, Brgy.Kapatagan and the immediate medical response from our own nurses and doctors was a realization of how important having our own PNP hospitals or medical facilities as well as PNP choppers. Their immediate response actually saved the lives of our personnel,” he said.

Escobal said they are continuously improving the facilities and capabilities of the CSQMMH in order for it to accommodate and treat more police personnel from PRO11 and its neighboring regions.

The eight crash victims were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Armigos, Lt. Nico Querubin, Police Executive Master Sergeant Eduardo Madanlo, Staff Sgt. Anthony Acosta and Patrolmen Mevin Villarta, Jino de la Cerna, Rejay Tambis and Miguel Ugsimar.

An initial investigation showed the eight were on board a PRO11 Regional Mobile

Patrol Battalion Mobile Patrol No. 115 when the driver lost control of the back-to-back vehicle while negotiating the road in Sitio Lutangan in Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City around 12:40 p.m. Friday.

Reportedly, the patrol vehicle lost its power while going to Files Peak and its brakes malfunctioned. The driven also failed to control the vehicle due to loose gravel in the area causing the accidental ravine dive.

The ravine in Sitio Lutangan was described as more or less 300-350-meters deep.

The policemen were among those securing the convoy of Gen. Eleazar who was on an official visit to Southern Mindanao to visit members of the PRO11 and attend the regional police service anniversary.