Complaint needed to probe car accident

CEBU, Philippines - Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda urged Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. to file a written complaint so the vehicular accident involving the service vehicle of Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay would be investigated.

For now, Sepulveda said they cannot investigate the case as there is no complaint yet.

He said the Capitol committee on discipline and investigation investigated Sanchez’s case when his vehicle met an accident while it was driven by an unauthorized driver on a Sunday evening last year.

“If the vice governor is filing a complaint, we will (investigate),” Sepulveda told reporters yesterday.

Like Sanchez’s case, the committee will just conduct a fact-finding investigation if the property officer, who has now the custody of Binghay’s vehicle, finds it necessary.

Sanchez was dismayed upon learning the accident involving Binghay’s vehicle was not investigated and was not even reported by the media while the one involving his vehicle was investigated.

The Capitol committee on discipline and investigation investigated whether or not Sanchez has liability over the accident involving his service vehicle that occurred late evening last August 29, 2010.

The accident happened along the National Highway in Barangay Owak, Asturias town. The Mitsubishi Strada of the vice governor’s office with plate number SJC-600 driven by Jonathan Pepito hit a minor who was walking on the edge of the concrete road.

The committee found a discrepancy in the driver’s trip ticket after they identified Melvin Icot as driver for the trip and not Pepito who is the authorized representative of Sanchez’s office.

The committee is trying to determine if the use of the government vehicle for the trip was intended for a private purpose.

The accident allegedly involving Binghay, which happened last January 4 along the National Highway in Barangay Gaas, Balamban town and caused injury to a victim, was put in a blotter of the Balamban Police Station. — (FREEMAN)