Driver of vehicle that hit, killed lawyer charged

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a call center agent for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for hitting to death lawyer Norma Torres Garciano with her driven vehicle along Escario Street Wednesday.

Junette July Yamyamin, 24, resident of Sitio Baka, Barangay Banilad, Cebu City was brought before the Prosecutor’s Office by the traffic police for an inquest proceeding. Yamyamin was accompanied by her parents.

During inquest, Yamyamin chose not to file counter-affidavit and manifested to answer the allegations before the court.

Assistant city prosecutor Gandhi Truya recommended the filing of case before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC). He likewise recommended P30,000 bail for Yamyamin’s temporary liberty.

Truya, however, said that they will make sure that the qualifying circumstances will be included in the “Information” of the case.

“We will indicate in the Information that there was abandonment that happened; this is a qualifying circumstance. If there is a qualifying circumstance, the penalty is one degree higher than what is imposed by law. The normal penalty is four to six years but if there is qualifying circumstance, the penalty will be six to 12 years,” he told the media.

Garciano, 73, a resident of Don Gil Garcia I, Barangay Capitol Site died after she was hit by a Mitsubishi Strada pick-up with plate number YHE 112 past 6 a.m. while she was on her way to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Capitol Parish to attend a morning mass.

Yamyamin surrendered to Fuente Police Station at 7:51 a.m. on same day, together with his uncle.

During the incident, Yamyamin was on her way to IT Park. She reportedly, did not notice that she had actually hit someone. It was the motorist who told her that a woman had been hit.

Reportedly, Garciano was thrown into the opposite lane and was yet subsequently hit by an Isuzu Highlander with plate number YBK 950 driven by Wichel Tagalog.

Tagalog surrendered to the police but he was released after it turned out that he had no liability over the incident.

Meanwhile, Yamyamin yesterday afternoon posted the recommended bail. The release order was signed by Judge Oscar Andrino of MTCC Branch 5. —/JMD (FREEMAN)