The President was on her way to her family residence in La Vista, Quezon City at around 5:30 a.m. after attending the dawn Mass with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo at the EDSA Shrine.
As her BMW car approached the flyover at the EDSA Shrine, a blue Besta van tried to get past the presidential convoy, nearly bumping the Presidential Security Group (PSG) motorcycle escort driving closest to where senger seat where the President was.
Luckily, the PSG escort was able to safely maneuver out of harm’s way of the President.
Under interrogation by the PSG, the drunken driver identified himself as SPO4 Velasco Tarrayo, assigned at the Criminal Investigation Division of the Mandaluyong City Police.
Tarrayo, along with two female companions on his van, was hauled off to the Arroyo family residence for further questioning.
"During the short interrogation we (asked) him why he did it, he admitted having too much drink and was reeking with liquor and claimed he just came from a party," deputy commander Col. Pedro Cadungog told The STAR.
He explained that at the time of the accident, vehicles were not stopped while the presidential convoy passed by because Mrs. Arroyo did not want to add to the traffic jam.
"So what we did was to add two motorcycle escorts, one at the left and one at the right, to travel the sides of the presidential vehicle," he said.
He said he couldn’t understand why Tarrayo insisted on getting into the presidential convoy while all other vehicles were being allowed to pass.
Cadungog, however, ruled out any ill intention on the part of the erring policeman.
"I don’t think he had any intention to harm the President but with his condition and being a policeman at that, we just couldn’t make heads or tails on his actions," he adds.
For his many traffic violations, including reckless endangerment of the President of the Republic, Tarrayo was taken to Camp Karingal where he would face disciplinary actions for both criminal and administrative offenses.
Cadungog disclosed that even under questioning by the PSG, the drunken cop still attempted to get out of his tight fix.
"Just let me go and I’ll take care of you when you’re in Mandaluyong, just mention my name," he allegedly whispered to his interrogators. — Marichu Villanueva