'Habal-habal' driver dies in accident

CEBU, Philippines - A “habal-habal” (motorcycle-for-hire) driver died after he was ran over by a six-wheeler cargo truck along the national highway in Barangay Pakigne, Minglanilla town yesterday midnight.

Simaco Villarta, 33, of Guadalupe, Cebu City was run over by the blue truck after he was thrown off from the motorcycle that he was riding. The victim’s vehicle allegedly collided head on with another motorcycle.

Police investigator SPO1 Renato Masangcay said the victim rode on a motorcycle driven by his fellow motorcycle-for-hire driver, Ernie Lopez.

Villarta and Lopez were allegegedly bound for Guadalupe, Cebu City which they are both residents of.   Police said Lopez encroached on the opposite lane and subsequently rammed into another motorcycle traveling towards south.

The driver of the other motorcycle, Domingo Alforque, Jr., 30, was with a female companion, Chariban Cruz, 20. Both are residents of Tulay, Minglanilla.

Masangcay said that due to the impact of the collision, Villarta and Lopez were thrown off from the motorcycle and landed on the pavement.

Villarta, who was thrown off the farthest, was run over by a north-bound cargo truck driven by Romerito Donaire, 39, of Sibonga.

Villarta was rushed to Minglanilla District Hospital but failed to make it there alive.

The three other victims, on the other hand, only sustained bruises, Masangcay said.

Donaire voluntarily surrendered to the responding policemen, who also arrested Lopez for being the cause of the accident.

“Kay naa man ni’y kuyog lain sila Lopez. Naa pa’y duha ka motorcycles gasunod nila, so it’s either nag-gukod-gukod ni sila while on the highway. Kumpiyansa ra kaayo na lawom na ang kagabhion, counterflowing,” Masangcay said.

Both Donaire and Lopez are now temporarily detained at the Minglanilla Police Station detention cell while police let the family of both parties involved to decide until today whether to arrive into an amicable settlement or pursue with filing of charges.   - (THE FREEMAN)