Makati mayor orders ‘crazy’ driver probed

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City Mayor Abby Binay ordered yesterday an investigation into the incident, seen on two viral videos, involving the driver of a “crazy yellow Kia” Friday night.

The driver, later identified as Jamie Camille Lee Brojan, 28, was seen smashing through motorcycles in an effort to escape several security guards who repeatedly hit her yellow Kia Picanto (conduction sticker EG5100) at the intersection of Kalayaan Avenue and San Pedro street in Rockwell Center.

She surrendered to the Makati police minutes after her vehicle plowed through motorcycles and some bystanders, police said.

According to the police, Brojan was charged with violating traffic rules and multiple physical injuries, but reports said the charges were dropped and she was released from jail after she assured the victims she would shoulder their medical bills and vehicle repairs.

Still liable 

Michael Don Camiña, the city government’s spokesperson and legal officer, said Binay has ordered the police to submit a thorough report on the incident “to allay the fears of the public.”

He also said Binay told the Department of Public Works and Highways to assess any damage to public property.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Rommil Mitra, city police chief, said he will check if Brojan is the same person arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in December 2006.

In a Pilipino Star Ngayon report, a certain Jamie Camille Brojan was arrested for illegal possession of firearms along with a German and a Filipino.

Bipolar?

A source told The STAR that Brojan was released from jail after the guards agreed to a settlement.

Brojan’s parents claimed their daughter is “bipolar,” the same source said.

“But city officials feel the matter should not be considered closed by the police and should be investigated thoroughly,” the source added.    

Facebook user Kitt Lapeña uploaded Friday night a photo of Brojan’s vehicle and a short video showing how she fled the security officers who tried to stop her car.

The 35-second video showed security officers smashing Brojan’s vehicle while some parked their motorcycles in front of and behind her vehicle to block her way and force her to get out of the car.

But Brojan did not open the window of her vehicle and she also did not get off until she sped away. 

Lapeña said that a short chase ensued between the “crazy yellow Kia,” as it was called by netizens, driven by Brojan and the Rockwell security officers.

Another video, posted by Helen de Terry-Glorioso, showed a bird’s eye view of the incident.

ABS-CBN reported that according to a witness, the car allegedly earlier figured in an accident involving a silver sedan. Brojan supposedly refused to alight from her car and sped off.

However, Brojan told Makati police she was only flagged down by Rockwell security officers due to illegal parking.

She also claimed that she panicked after she was chased and mobbed by Rockwell marshals.