Cops release 3 drivers after 2 fatal accidents

CEBU, Philippines - The three drivers who were tagged as responsible for the death of a 26-year-old woman in Cebu City and of a teenager in Naga City last weekend were released from detention after the families of the victims decided not to pursue filing charges against them.

Ernesto Pepito, 49, of Talamban, Cebu City and Oliver Nieves, 29, of Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City, who were detained at Fuente Police Station, were released after reaching an amicable settlement with the father of Daisy Chua.

Chua, of Greenbelt Village, Barangay Quiot, Cebu City succumbed to injuries after she was hit by a multicab and then ran over by a jitney along Escario Street, Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City last August 8.

At the time of the incident, Chua was with her boyfriend Hurdryne Conde, 24, who was also injured and treated at the hospital.

Chua and Conde were on board a motorcycle driven by Conde and were on their way to Gorordo Avenue when a Suzuki multicab driven by Pepito hit them.

Pepito was overtaking a jitney driven by Nieves that was traveling behind Chua and Conde and in the process bumped into the victims’ motorcycle.

The motorcycle crashed due to the impact and Nieves allegedly accidentally ran Chua over.

Cebu City Police Office Traffic Patrol Group chief investigator, Senior Police Officer 4 Nelson Jayme, said the parties agreed that Pepito would shoulder the burial expenses while Nieves would pay for the transportation expenses for Chua’s body to be brought to her family in General Santos.

“Gidawat nalang sa amahan nga aksidente angnahitabo sa iyang anak. Ni-conform pud ang mga drivers sa ilang settlement maong na-release sila,” said Jayme.

Jayme said Chua’s death certificate showed that she died of head injury which she sustained after she bumped into the windshield of the multicab.

He added that Chua’s head injury was the proximate cause of her death but the jitney was still implicated in the accident.

Meanwhile, a 41-year-old truck driver who also ran over a male teenager in Naga City was also released from police custody after serving the 36-hour reglementary period with no families of the victim filing a complaint against him.

Homelito Omayao, of Barangay Bunga, Toledo City, was released from detention after the father of Anthony Purisima, 18, decided not to file a case against him.

Purisima, of Poblacion, Sibonga, died on the spot after he was thrown off the motorcycle he was riding and got ran over by the right rear tire of the dump truck driven by Omayao.

Police Officer 3 Michael Billarmia of Naga City Police Station said that the driver agreed to pay for the burial expenses of the victim.

The accident happened also on August 8 while Purisima was onboard a motorcycle driven by his 14-year-old cousin. They were tailing the dump truck and were heading towards San Fernando at the time of the incident.

Upon reaching Barangay Langtad, the minor and Purisima tried to overtake the dump truck on its right side instead on the left.

While maneuvering to overtake the truck, the minor reportedly lost control of the motorcycle, crashing to the ground. The minor suffered slight injuries. (FREEMAN)