Cagayan de Oro City experienced a tragic start to the holiday season as multiple road accidents disrupted the festive mood, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old man in Barangay Agusan. The victim, Joseph Saldua, was fatally struck by a speeding motorcycle in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as reported by the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office – Traffic Enforcement Unit (COCPO-TEU). Patrolman Jay-ar Caiña, who responded to the scene after an emergency call at around 4 a.m., confirmed that Saldua was pronounced dead by initial responders from the Philippine Red Cross. The motorcycle driver involved in the accident surrendered to the authorities following the incident. The city also saw several other vehicular mishaps during the holiday period, with heavy traffic reported on major roads. In a related incident on December 23 in Tupi, South Cotabato, a van crashed into a tree after its brakes failed, killing seven people, six of whom were residents of Barangay Bugo in Cagayan de Oro City.
