Prosecutor Mabanto hits driver

CEBU, Philippines - Controversial Mandaue City assistant prosecutor Bienvinido Mabanto was accused of hitting a driver of a delivery van Friday afternoon at the parking area of a mall in the North Reclamation Area because of traffic accident.

Mabanto also ordered the detention of Darwin Dabon at the Subangdaku Police Station after his KIA Sorento was accidentally hit by the latter while doing the parking maneuver.

Dabon, resident of Barangay Tisa Cebu City, was parking his delivery van beside Mabanto’s Sorento at the parking area of Park Mall when he unintentionally hit the prosecutor’s vehicle causing a minor damage at its front. 

Mabanto who knew what had happened to his car from the mall guard immediately confronted Dabon. The driver who allegedly admitted his mistake tried to apologize to the prosecutor but he was instead kicked at his upper legs. The incident was witnessed by several people in the area.

Mabanto, however, denied hitting Dabon. But, the prosecutor admitted having ordered Dabon’s detention even if his employer had already promised to pay the damage to his car.

“Nag-park akong sakyanan gidam-agan niya  unya mibalhin dayon ug parkingan  murag wa lay nahitabo unya naa may nakakita ug ang security guard misumbong nako. Bastos dyud tawhana kabalo sad baya siya nga gi-prohibit to nga lugar kay pedestrian lane to unya naa pay naka-block nga traffic barrier unya mo-parking pa dyud,” Mabanto said.

Dabon was issued a Temporary Operator’s Permit by Police Officer 1 Rosello Campo of the traffic division for reckless driving and damage to property. A police officer who requested anonymity said the violations of which Dabon was cited could have been settled amicably without having him detained.

Dabon’s wife said her husband has no intension to escape contrary to Mabanto’s allegation. In fact, his supervisor already communicated to the prosecutor and promised him that the company will pay the damage to his car.

The wife explained that her husband looked for another space to park the delivery van so he could talk to the owner of the vehicle that he accidentally hit while doing the parking maneuver.

Mabanto who sits as vice chairman of the Mandaue City Traffic Management Board said he was really bent on filing charges against Dabon on Monday. But since his employer had already talked to him and assured to pay the damage he might not proceed with the filing of the case.

The incident was Mabanto’s third controversy involving traffic. In December last year Japanese national Tamotso Miyauchi accused Mabanto of mauling him and sending him to detention also at the Subangdaku Police Station.

Miyauchi later withdrew his accusations and made a public apology to Mabanto which was published on papers.

A month prior to that incident, bus driver Rolando Lequin also accused Mabanto of hitting him because of traffic violation.

Lequin even filed criminal and administrative complaints against Mabanto before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas and Regional State Prosecutor’s Office, respectively. (FREEMAN)