AUV with K9 units figures in 5-car smashup

MANILA, Philippines - An Asian utility vehicle (AUV) carrying bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers was involved in a five-vehicle collision along EDSA in Mandaluyong City before dawn yesterday.

None of the occupants of the five vehicles, including the dogs, were hurt, Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Elmer Jamias said.

Jamias said the AUV, an Isuzu DMax (TOM 756) driven by Jeffrey Pura, was allowed to leave the area after negotiating with the drivers of the other vehicles.

The K9 units were supposed to be part of the security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

He said the DMax was going south on EDSA near the Guadalupe bridge when a Suzuki Vitara (AAX 7142) ahead of it came to a sudden stop at about 5:45 a.m. yesterday.

Pura said he stepped on the brakes but still rear-ended the Vitara.

A taxi (UKD 494) hit the DMax from behind, while a Toyota Fortuner (NOI 612) driven by Anthony Lumakad hit the taxi.

The Fortuner was hit by a taxi (AAN 7468) driven by Julian Aguilar.

Alejo Bautista, the driver of the Vitara, claimed that a van cut into his lane, prompting him to step on the brakes to avoid it.

The K-9 units are part of the 300 bomb- sniffing dogs deployed to ensure the security of delegates and participants of the APEC.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has deployed all its available K9 units, which are now under the supervision of Task Force APEC, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said.The Philippine National Police, on the other hand, enlisted the services of 168 teams from several K9 security providers, said Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino, who heads the PNP’s Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies.

The government will reportedly pay P5,000 for each K9 team deployed to the summit by civilian security providers.