Car hits ‘kolong-kolong’ in Ballesteros, Cagayan: TWO dead, ONE hurt

Ballesteros, Cagayan – The early morning of Sunday, January 11, 2026, turned tragic for three individuals after the kolong-kolong they were riding was hit by a car while traversing a road in Ballesteros, Cagayan, killing two and injuring one.

The casualties were identified by local police as Jasmin John Oandasan and Fernando Manoyo, both of legal age, while the injured individual is a minor.

According to Ballesteros Police Station Chief PCAPT Jim Palattao, as reported by Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao, the three victims were traveling on a provincial road near Mabuttal Bridge when their kolong-kolong was struck by a Toyota Vios around 4:40 a.m.

Photos attached to the report showed that both vehicles ended up in a nearby rice field due to the force of the impact.

During the investigation, the driver of the Vios, 23-year-old Kennedy Ian Lizardo, told police that he failed to notice the slow-moving kolong-kolong in front due to heavy rainfall, resulting in the crash.

Upon notification, authorities rushed the victims to a nearby hospital, but Oandasan and Manoyo were declared dead on arrival. The minor passenger is now in stable condition.

Meanwhile, the car also carried two passengers who were injured. Their identities were not disclosed by the police. Lizardo himself sustained a leg wound.

According to PCAPT Palattao, the families of the victims are determined to file charges against Lizardo. He faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries, and damage to property.

Further investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances behind the incident.

As of January 12, 2026, no publicly available data exists regarding the number of road accidents in Ballesteros, Cagayan, for 2026 and the previous year. The January 11 incident is possibly the first recorded case in the municipality this year.