Driver''s license of cop in accident is already expired

The policeman who drove the patrol vehicle that killed a man when it ran over three people in barangay Tabunan the other night possesses an expired driver''s license.

PO1 Elmer Degoro of the Traffic Group of the Cebu City Police Office told The Freeman that the suspect, SPO1 Cesario Torregosa, does not have a valid license and that the vehicle''s registration documents were not presented before their office.

Torregosa surrendered to the Traffic Group after his patrol car, a Nissan Terrano, without a registered plate hit Narly Bonghanoy, 16, Teresita Panit, 27, and Lorena Robellos, 30.

The victims were rushed to the Perpetual Succour Hospital where Bonghanoy was declared dead on arrival.

They were having dinner when Torregosa''s vehicle hit them and a parked motocycle. Witnesses said the vehicle only stopped when it stuck in an unfinished toilet hole.

Degoro said Torregosa''s driver''s license already expired since 2002. Torregosa, a member of the Service Security Group, is detailed as driver for patrol vehicles used for police operation in mountain barangays issued by the city government a few days ago.

When interviewed by The Freeman, Torregosa admitted that prior to the incident, he had a few shots of liquor offered by his friends in the area. He said he accepted the drink just for "pakisama" because he was just new to the place.

He added that he had applied for the renewal of his driver''s license and is only waiting for the result of his drug test, which is now a requisite for applying driver''s license.

According to the police report, when Torregosa maneuvered the vehicle forward, it hit the victims and Panit''s house as it didn''t stop when he stepped on the brakes.

CCPO director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador assured that a case will be filed against the policeman.

But Comendador admitted that when they received the vehicles from the city governemnt, he did not see any registration documents.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday assured help for the two persons hospitalized after the incident.

Osmeña said a civilian has pledged to shoulder all the hospital expenses of the victims, adding that he instructed his staff to find out what assistance could be provided to the family of the lone fatality.

Cebu City Hall spokesman Nagiel Bañacia admitted that the vehicle involved in the incident is not registered with the Land Transportation Office. - Edwin Ian Melecio and Rene U. Borromeo/LPM