Police identified the victim as Emeterio Balmoria, 68, of Mayapis street, PNR Compound in Makati City.
Based on the investigation of SPO4 Pedrito delos Reyes, Balmoria was said to occasionally sit on the tracks for no apparent reason.
Despite his neighbors’ warning, Balmoria continued to sit on the tracks at around 7:30 p.m. last Friday when a Bicol-bound PNR train no. 915 arrived.
Even with the horn of the train blowing frantically, Balmoria’s hearing defect failed to warn him of the oncoming danger. The victim noticed the train only when it was about to hit him.
Witnesses said he managed to stand up and attempted to run but it was already too late.
He died on the spot after he was thrown several meters away by the impact. – Marvin Sy