2 die in road accidents in Bantayan, Carmen

Two men were killed in two separate road accidents in the towns of Bantayan and Carmen Saturday night.

In the first incident, the Madridejos police chief who was driving his jeep reportedly collided with a motorcycle along the highway in barangay Kabangbang, Bantayan town.

Bantayan Police Station deputy chief SPO4 Melquiadez Seares yesterday told The FREEMAN that acting Madridejos Police Station chief SPO4 Conrado Pabillon was driving his Wrangler-type jeep on his way home to Bantayan from Madridejos when it collided with the motorcycle driven by Virgilio Martos, 43, a welder.

Martos was declared dead on arrival at Bantayan District Hospital.

Seares said they found out that Pabillon and Martos have no driver's license and that both their vehicles have no valid registration papers. "Na expired na ang registration sa kang Pabillon while ang sa motorcycle walay dokumento nga gikapakita."

Seares said Pabillon alleged that he did not notice the motorcycle traveling from the opposite direction since Martos did not use the headlight.

Pabillon, who was detained at the Bantayan Police Station, was temporarily released at 3:00 p.m. Sunday since the victim's family could not decide yet on whether to file charges against Pabillon. But a charge of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide is now being prepared against him, Seares said.

"Magpaabot pa mi sa mga relatives aning Martos nga moanhi diri sa police station pag-file og pormal nga reklamo pero karon wala pa man sila moanhi," said Seares.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director S. Supt. Carmelo Valmoria yesterday told The FREEMAN that Pabillon would continue to serve as OIC of Madridejos Police Station since they are waiting for the result of the investigation conducted by the CPPO.

He said the Provincial Investigation Detection Management Branch of the CPPO is investigating the incident as a standard operation procedure. "As SOP ipa-investigate nato unsay nature sa incident unya gipa-investigate na ni sa PIDMB," said Valmoria

In Carmen town, a certain Ernesto Bacalla was killed after a 10-wheeler Mitsubishi Fuso hauler driven by Juanito Gastador of Medellin bumped the motorcycle he was driving in front of Carmen Police Station.

Carmen Police Station chief P. Insp. Carlos Reyes Jr., yesterday told The FREEMAN that Gastador said he was traveling north when the motorcycle overtook.

Gastador said Bacalla, a resident of F. Jaca Street, Cebu City, suddenly reduced speed upon encountering a passenger vehicle from the opposite direction. Gastador added that when he tried to slow down, his brake malfunctioned, prompting his vehicle to hit the motorcycle.

Reyes said the truck driver is now detained at the town police station pending the filing of appropriate charges against him. - Norvie S. Misa/LPM