Toledo road mishap: Truck driver charged; Capitol to help victims

CEBU, Philippines – The driver of the truck that hit two vehicles and ran over a group of students in Toledo City was charged with reckless imprudence resulting to homicide with multiple physical injuries and damage to property before the Toledo City Prosecutor's Office yesterday.

Police said the case against Richard Villarmia may be elevated to the court soon as during yesterday's inquest proceedings, the accused said he has no intention to submit a counter-affidavit to answer the charges against him.

The City Prosecutor's Office will look into the affidavits of the witnesses and the complaint-affidavit filed by the families of the victims and if found that there is prob-able cause, the case will be elevated to the court.

Villarmia drove the truck bearing the plate numbers GEK-214 owned by Ray Godinez when his vehicle hit a motorcycle and a minicab on the highway of Barangay Don Andres Soriano, Toledo City, Thursday noon.

The accident caused the death of Ma. Teresa Tatoy, 10, a grade four student of Don Andres Soriano Elementary School and Cerilo Labastida, 30, a resident of Balam-ban town and the injury of at least nine other persons.

Those who were injured were Arthlyn Clair Wagas, 12; Enrique Repunte, 11; Treshea Villareno, 11; John Michael Tatoy, 6; Jerome Montebon, 50; Jose Samdy Perez, 64, a tanod; Maria Angelica Macapobre, 20, practicum teacher; Glory Pardillo, 15, and Charles Jay Serad, 8.

The truck was reportedly going downhill on its way to Cebu City coming from Toledo City when the accident happened.

Traffic investigators said based on account of witnesses, the truck was obviously traveling fast and the accident was not caused by mechanical trouble but human error.

The traffic enforcer, who brought the said truck to the station, said that the brakes were working fine, contrary to the claim of Villarmia that the truck lost its brakes causing the accident.

The Cebu provincial government will provide P5,000 financial assistance and commodities like rice, noodles, coffee and sardines to the families of each of the fatalities of the accident.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development said it could also provide financial assistance to the nine injured if they still have hospital bills to pay aside from the aid coming from the insurance of the truck.

Since Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has not yet arrived from Vietnam, Capitol spokesperson Rory Jon Sepulveda assured that as long as an incident fits the standard program, there is no need for the governor to approve any assistance from the PSWD.

"Giving assistance is already a standard practice and as long as ma-carry sa standard program, no need na ang approval ni Gov," he said.

But the assistance can not be handed to the victims yet as the copy of the police report, case summary and death certificates which will serve as requirements in giving assistance are not yet submitted to the Capitol.

"Nanawag nami sa social worker sa Toledo ganinang buntag kay we cannot extend assistance if wa'y documents, kinahanglan man gud namo ang accomplish reports," said Rose Ann Obenque, social worker of PSWD. - Mylen P. Manto, Ria Mae Y. Booc and Mellanie C. Rosales/WAB (FREEMAN)