Tragic Highway Collision Claims Life of Retiring Police Officer in Cebu
A veteran police officer, who was just months away from retirement, tragically lost his life in a devastating traffic accident on the National Highway in Cebu. The fatal collision occurred early Sunday morning, February 1, 2026, when a counterflowing Ceres bus struck the officer's motorcycle, leading to catastrophic injuries.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The victim has been identified as Police Executive Master Sergeant Antonio Sando, a 55-year-old officer from the Traffic Police Group and a resident of Carcar City. According to the official investigation conducted by the Naga City Police Station, the accident unfolded at approximately 7:45 a.m. in Barangay Inuburan, City of Naga, Cebu.
Investigators reconstructed the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. The Ceres bus, driven by 43-year-old Junrel Cavalida from Samboan, was traveling from San Fernando toward Naga. Meanwhile, Police Master Sergeant Sando was heading in the opposite direction, traveling from Naga toward San Fernando on his Philippine National Police-issued motorcycle.
Chain Reaction Leading to Tragedy
The collision resulted from a sudden chain reaction on the highway. A Mitsubishi Mirage traveling toward Cebu City abruptly stopped in the inner lane, causing the vehicles behind it—a Toyota Innova and two motorcycles—to brake suddenly and collide with the Mirage's rear.
Faced with this unexpected cluster of stopped vehicles and motorcycles, the Ceres bus driver attempted to avoid the obstruction by moving into the opposite lane. Unfortunately, this maneuver placed the bus directly in the path of Police Master Sergeant Sando's approaching motorcycle.
The impact was severe, with the motorcycle being pushed beneath the right side of the bus hood. Police Master Sergeant Sando sustained critical head and body injuries from the force of the collision.
Immediate Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Emergency responders rushed the injured officer to South General Hospital, but medical personnel declared him dead upon arrival. The promising career of a law enforcement veteran, who had served the community for decades and was looking forward to retirement, ended abruptly on that Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, authorities have taken the Ceres bus driver into custody at the Naga City Police Station. Junrel Cavalida now faces serious legal charges, including reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property. The case highlights ongoing concerns about road safety and traffic discipline on Philippine highways.
This tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers even during routine travel and underscores the importance of defensive driving practices on busy national highways.
