Driver who hit principal released from jail

CEBU, Philippines – The school bus driver who accidentally killed a school principal after hitting the motorcycle she was on has been released from jail.

Senior Police Officer 4 Jorame Tanudtanud, chief clerk of Carcar City Police Station, said Catalino Manayaga Jr., 46, was released from detention after the family of the private school principal, Soledad Aliño, and her husband, Eleuterio, did not show up in the station to lodge a criminal complaint against him.

Tanudtanud said the family of the victims may have come up with a decision not to file a charge against Manayaga, who is a relative of Soledad and Eleuterio.

“Paryente siya sa both sides sa victims. Basin naa na sila’y compromise agreement, wa lang sila mo-sign pa sa affidavit of desistance as of now,” he said.

The Aliños were traversing the national highway on their way to Carcar Academy in Cogon, Poblacion I, where Soledad is the principal, when their motorcycle was hit by the Saint Catherine’s College school bus driven by Manayaga as it overtook a passenger bus.

Tanudtanud said Manayaga claimed he did not see the victims when he maneuvered the bus to the opposite lane, adding that it suddenly happened.

“Naa’y minibus naka-park sa unahan. Nagtuo siya nga nagpick-up og pasahero so ni-overtake siya. Wa siya gatuo nga ni-give way ang minibus sa motor,” he said.

Soledad was declared dead on arrival at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City when she succumbed to injuries in the different parts of her body. Due to the impact, she was thrown off the motorcycle.

Eleuterio is still recuperating in a hospital from the severe injuries he also sustained during the accident.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, Manayaga has completed the 36-hour reglementary period after he voluntarily surrendered almost an hour after the incident last Tuesday. “Iya dayon gibiyaan iyang sakyanan unya ni-surrender para sa proteksyon sa iyang kinabuhi,” Tanudtanud said.

Tanudtanud said they haven’t received feedback from the family of the victims as of press time. He, however, assured that the family can go to the station anytime should they wish to pursue filing a case against the suspect. — /ATO (FREEMAN)