Manhunt on for LPG truck driver

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines  – Police have launched a regionwide manhunt operations against the killer truck driver and his helper in connection with the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) blast in Carmona, Cavite, past midnight on Wednesday, that left nine people dead and razed a row of houses.

PO2 Carlito Loyola, officer-on-case, said a group of tracker teams is now dispatched to hunt truck driver Merco Lachica and his helper Joel Jocaban who are still at large. “A group of policemen immediately conducted hot pursuit operations in different bus terminals in Cavite, particularly those going to Occidental Mindoro but failed to find him,” Loyola told The STAR in a phone interview.

Loyola said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and damage to property are to be filed at the Carmona Prosecutor’s Office against Lachica and his four helpers. Loyola said two other helpers – John Esmilla and Wilfredo Espartero – are in police custody.

He said relatives of the victims expressed their dismay after the representatives of the Tamaraw Gas Center owned by Amado Francisco Yulo, failed to show at the police station.

Loyola said a six-wheeler truck (VRA-361) carrying more than 500 gas tanks crashed into a roadside Kings James eatery and a parked car, that caused an explosion which burned to death nine people identified as Jocelyn Bascugin and sons James, two, and Jonald, 12; and helpers Natalie Roa, 21; Julie Ann Vergara, 18; Joy Ann, 21; and Jeremy Vergara, 25; Jomarc Bataan; and Jomary Pansito. The explosion also gutted a row of houses in Carmona, Cavite.