Greg cries foul over unreported mishap

CEBU, Philippines - The unreported road accident involving the official vehicle of Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay last week has dismayed Cebu Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr.

Sanchez told Capitol reporters yesterday the accident was not reported while the one involving his vehicle was reported and a committee was investigating it.

The Capitol committee on discipline and investigation investigated whether or not Sanchez has liability over the accident involving his service vehicle that occurred late evening last August 29, 2010.

The accident happened along the National Highway in Barangay Owak, Asturias town. The Mitsubishi Strada of the vice governor’s office with plate number SJC-600 driven by Jonathan Pepito hit a minor who was walking on the edge of the concrete road.

The committee found a discrepancy in the driver’s trip ticket after they identified Melvin Icot as driver for the trip and not Pepito who is the authorized representative of Sanchez’s office.

The committee is trying to determine if the use of the government vehicle for the trip was intended for a private purpose.

The accident allegedly involving Binghay, which happened last January 4 along the National Highway in Barangay Gaas, Balamban town and caused injury to a victim, was put in a blotter of the Balamban Police Station.

Jelmar Repdos, 21, a resident of Barangay Magsaysay, Balamban town, was hit by the Toyota Hilux owned by the provincial government. He was rushed to the Balamban District Hospital and transferred to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

Sanchez said that he learned that the victim is in critical condition.

SPO3 Arvie Banate of the Balamban Police Station said Repdos was driving a motorcycle with a temporary license plate numbers 7D-2030-CP towards Barangay Poblacion while the Toyota Hilux of Binghay with license plate numbers SHT-468 driven by Mark Alfredo Lanit, 24, of barangay Cabcaban, Barili was heading to Cebu City when the accident happened.

Banate could not confirm if Binghay was inside the vehicle or not.

“Di ko ka-determine if apil siya sa accident kay pag-abot namo sa hospital naa naman siya ngadto nag-atang sa biktima,” he told The FREEMAN.

Binghay staff, Amelyn Poca, said that Binghay was not on board the service vehicle when the accident happened but in his personal vehicle behind it.

Poca also denied the report of Sanchez that the victim was in critical condition.

Lanit was heading to Cebu City when he suddenly maneuvered on the left lane upon seeing people walking on the same lane when suddenly Repdos who was behind Lanit traveling at high speed lost control and hit the Toyota Hilux.

Repdos slammed to the ground causing him to suffer injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Police reported that Repdos was driving without a license.

Banate said they are still waiting for the relatives of the victim to appear in their office and file appropriate charges against Lanit.    (FREEMAN NEWS)