Judge, wife killed in QC road mishap

MANILA, Philippines - A Makati judge and his wife were killed after a runaway bus slammed the SUV they were riding in on their way to attend the dawn Mass yesterday in Quezon City.

Quezon City Traffic Sector 5 commander Chief Inspector Maximo Sabio identified the fatalities as Makati RTC Branch 58 Judge Reynaldo Laigo, 70, and his wife Lilia, 66, reportedly a real estate broker, both of 21 K Lane UPR Kalaklan, Olongapo City with city residence at Winston street, Fairview Park subdivision, Quezon City.

Rescue officials said the judge and his wife were separately taken to the Fairview General Hospital and the East Avenue Medical Center, both in Quezon City, for treatment. They succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries and were declared dead on arrival by doctors at the respective hospitals where they were taken.

Suspect Generoso Magante Jr., 42, of Pitombayog, Tarlac and driver of a Corimba Express Inc. bus (TXX-508) based in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, surrendered to authorities and is now detained at TS 5 holding center.

Magante is facing two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide.

Investigation showed Laigo was behind the wheel with his wife beside him on the passenger seat of their mini Pajero (RCU-547) when the bus hit them.

The Laigos were traveling from Winston street and were crossing Commonwealth Avenue to make a left turn on their way to attend the Simbang Gabi at the Fairview Park Cathedral when the onrushing Corimba bus driven by Magante slammed into the center left side of the Pajero.

The bus, which was traveling southbound towards Philcoa, dragged the SUV some 15 meters from the point of impact and stopped in the middle of the highway.

A rescue team from the MMDA appeared at the scene within minutes and took the victims to the nearest hospitals after giving initial medical attention.

At the holding center, Magante said he had a clear view of the vehicle from a far distance yet, despite the drizzle, and stepped on the brakes as the Laigos’ car crossed the avenue. He said his brakes failed because the road was wet.

Magante apologized to the victims’ family for the accident.

Laigo was the judge who junked last week a human rights case against former first lady Imelda Marcos.

Quezon City District Traffic Enforcement Unit chief Superintendent Arnold Santiago said further investigation is being conducted on the incident.

Meantime, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday suspended the franchise of the operator of the Corimba bus.

Lawyer Manuel Iway, LTFRB board member, said the preventive suspension will last for 30 days pending an investigation on whether the driver or his operator had committed lapses that might have led to the accident.

Corimba Express Inc. has 16 bus units, according to Iway. – With Reinir Padua