Drunken trader plows truck into wet cement

A drunken businessman, who tried to worm his way out of criminal liability by allegedly claiming to be a police lieutenant and a relative of Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio was initially thrown in jail for forcing his way through a wet area of a road under construction in Malabon City early yesterday morning. He was also charged for resisting arrest.

Reporters later gathered that the suspect apparently succeeded in his ploy and could not be found in the police detention cell even as the Malabon police tried to give media the run around as to the details of the incident.

The suspect was later identified as Jose Generosa, 43, of Tugatog, Malabon City. Generosa’s arrest was made on complaint of Engineer Eduardo Aloven of the local office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Aloven complained that the suspect destroyed a portion of P. Sevilla Street, which was under repair, in Barangay Potrero.

Initial investigation showed at about 1 a.m. an inebriated Generosa, on board a pickup truck, allegedly rammed through a warning sign indicating "wet cement" and ran through the wet concrete for some 15 meters before stopping, the truck’s wheels and underchassis all wrapped in concrete goo.

The "incursion" prompted workers to inform Aloven who quickly sought police assistance.

When the police came, witnesses said Generosa resisted arrest and dropped Vicencio’s name. He was, nevertheless, brought to the station and jailed.

When reporters later got wind of the incident, they tried to get the police report but were given the run around. A certain "Ariel Arrienza," who claimed to be with the police follow up unit, told reporters over the phone there was no police report because "natiketan na" (a ticket has been issued) obviously in reference to the incident classified as a traffic violation) and "na-areglo na ’yan (that’s already settled)."– Jerry Botial