Fariñas’ son dies in motorcycle mishap

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Ilocos Norte first district Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas’ son and namesake died in a motorcycle accident in Bacarra town in this province yesterday morning.

Rodolfo “JR” Fariñas Jr., 20, was reportedly driving his BMW motorcycle at top speed when he hit a dump truck at around 5:30 a.m. in Barangay Pasiocan.

JR, who was wearing a helmet, was thrown from his motorcycle, which burst into flames, according to Ilocos Norte police director Senior Superintendent Albert Ocon.

JR died of severe injuries while being treated at the Gov. Roque Ablan Senior Memorial Hospital.

Ilocos Norte emergency response director Jonathan Valdez, 36, said minutes before the accident, he saw JR drive past him in nearby Barangay Peralta.

Witnesses said the victim tried to avoid the truck, but it was too late.

“Initial report said the victim slammed into a row of concrete barriers, but footage of a closed-circuit television camera installed in the area showed the victim hitting a dump truck,” Ocon said.