Cop, bystander killed in Las Piñas vehicle smash-up

Two persons, including a young Parañaque policeman, were killed in a vehicular accident in Las Piñas Sunday night while another was reported hurt.

Police Officer 1 Rodolfo Concepcion, 25, single, assigned to Paranaque’s sub-station 1, died while undergoing treatment at the Perpetual Help Hospital due to massive injuries all over his body. The other fatality was identified as Rolly Gapasin, 47, who happened to be waiting for a ride.

Based on the investigation by Senior Police Officer 1 Domingo Blando, the incident happened at about 11:15 p.m. in Pamplona while the policeman was on his way to Zapote on board his jeep (DLX-712). The incident was narrated by Concepcion himself to the investigator before he died.

According to Concepcion’s account, a vehicle on the opposite lane heading towards Alabang "counterflowed," forcing him to jerk his vehicle to the right. The lawman – a resident of Dona Manuela Subdivision, Pamplona – lost control of his vehicle and it slammed into a concrete wall.

The impact was reportedly so strong that the jeep spun around and hit Gapasin. Gapasin, also a resident of Pamplona, died on the spot.

The identity of the third victim, a male companion of the policeman in the jeep, could not be immediately determined but he is said to be in safe condition.

Police are trying to determine if any witness took note of the counterflowing vehicle’s license plate number or the vehicle type. – Jose Aravilla