Family of woman who was hit by bus not suing driver

CEBU, Philippines - The family of the elderly woman who died after she was hit by an overspeeding passenger bus decided to no longer pursue filing charges against the driver.

Rose Gaw Uy, 67, succumbed to serious injuries to the different parts of her body after she got hit and dragged by a Ceres bus driven by Joffrey Borres, 30, while crossing the road in Barangay Kinasang-an Pardo, Cebu City on July 13.

Traffic investigator Police Officer 2 Chady Jungoy said Uy’s family and the Ceres management initially reached an amicable settlement provided that the latter would shoulder the burial expenses for the victim.

Jungoy said the victim’s family had earlier informed them that they were not willing to file charges for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide against Borres. Uy’s son, Sherwin, signed the affidavit of desistance on July 16.

“Mao na ang ilang initial nga kasabotan. Settled na sila,” Jungoy said.

Borres surrendered to Pardo Police Station after the incident and was detained at Parian Police Station. He was released on July 15 after serving the 36-hour reglementary period with no party filing a complaint against him.

City Traffic Operations Management Operations chief Joy Tumulak earlier said their investigation showed that the victim first got hit on her head.

The driver immediately stepped on the breaks, however, the victim, who was thrown away, was dragged under the bus for a few meters as it slowed down.

Tumulak noted that the bus was overspeeding based on the 16-meter distance of the bus from where it applied breaks, as shown by the skid mark.

Borres reportedly told CITOM that Uy suddenly crossed the road and it was too late for him to avoid her.

It took two hours for the rescue authorities to retrieve Uy’s body since her right arm was pinned down by the wheel of the bus.

The Ceres bus was en route to Cebu City from southern Cebu. Its windshield was broken due to the impact. — Grace Melanie I. Lacamiento/NSA (FREEMAN)