Alcoy Mayor’s car in accident

CEBU, Philippines - The government-issued vehicle boarded by Alcoy Mayor Nichomedes delos Santos figured in an accident on the national highway of Barangay Tulic, Argao yesterday morning.

Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.

The Toyota Innova, bearing plate number SJC-498, driven by Bernard Beduya, of legal age, was traveling towards Barangay Lamacan from Cebu City when the incident happened at around 8:15 a.m. Both the mayor and his driver are residents of Alcoy town.

The tricycle bearing plate number 5710GH was driven by Hermillo Abrigana, of legal age, and a resident of Barangay Luwak. He was traveling from the south and bound for Barangay Poblacion. Abrigana just transported his niece and nephew to school at that time.

PO1 Clifford Butron, a member of the alert team, said the tricycle was traveling on the lane where the Innova was.

Butron further said that upon reaching an adjacent portion of the road heading towards Barangay Lamacan, the Innova hit the metal attached to the sidecar of the tricycle causing the Innova’s right front tire to deflate.

In a separate interview, delos Santos refused to file charges and amicably settled the matter with Abrigana.

Delos Santos said that filing a case would only take time, effort and money while the damage was only minor.

“Nisabot lang mi kay pobre ra intawn ang driver unya hasol na ug ikaso pa gamay ra man sad ang damage, (We just settled it because the driver is poor and it would be too much hassle to file a case when the damage to the vehicle was just minimal),” delos Santos said in a phone interview.

Abrigana’s brother, who owns a vulcanizing shop, already shouldered the new tire of the Innova.— /MIT (FREEMAN)