Traffic chief, enforcer under fire

CEBU, Philippines - The chief of the Talisay City traffic division and the traffic enforcer who investigated an incident last Saturday that killed a barangay tanod will be placed under investigation for allegedly concealing the facts of the incident.

The incident involved Christian Alan Bucao, son of Talisay Vice Mayor Alan Bucao.

It was Bucao who was driving the motorcycle that collided with the motorcycle driven by the tanod, Reynante Rabaya. The incident occurred at the Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay San Roque, Talisay. Rabaya was responding to an alarm at that time.

Bucao was saved by his helmet, but Rabaya sustained serious injury in the head and passed away dawn last Monday while being treated at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

The traffic division, however, did not put Rabaya’s death on record and merely said there was “damage to property with physical injury.” The actual names of Bucao and Rabaya were not recorded in the blotter and they were only referred to as “driver of vehicle A” and “driver of vehicle B.” The blotter also did not include the facts of the incident.

The vice mayor heads the Talisay Traffic Operations and Development Authority where the case was reportedly forwarded to.

Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay City Police Station’s chief, said he will put Insp. Ricardo Echavez, chief of the Talisay City Traffic Division and PO2 Henry Diano, the case investigator, under investigation.

“Sa balaod nato, patas man ta, wala man tay ingon nga anak siya og Vice Mayor o unsa. Ang balaod buta na, wala nay gilantaw kung unsa na siya, ato nang i-apply sa tanang tawo ug walay exempted,” Recamara said.

For his part, Echavez said Diano was still looking for eyewitness and would submit his report to their office once he has gathered enough information. He said Diano “dropped” some facts to their office already but these remain unrecorded.

Bucao’s family shouldered Rabaya’s funeral expenses. - THE FREEMAN