2 kids run over by taxi in Caloocan, 1 dead 

Two boys were run over by a taxi while playing in the middle of the road in Barangay 187 in Tala, North Caloocan on Thursday, leaving one of them dead. 

According to Darlene Cay’s report on "24 Oras" on Friday, the victims were 5 and 6 years old, and were cousins.

CCTV footage showed that the taxi driver positioned his vehicle as he was about to make a turn to Dalia Street, where the children were playing. It can also be seen in the footage that the driver was signaling from inside the vehicle for the kids to get out of his way. 

A girl went to the victims to tell them to get off the road. But before the boys could stand up, the vehicle suddenly moved forward towards the street, running over the children. 

The driver stopped but he did not immediately reverse the taxi as the victims remained pinned under the front wheels. 

The 6-year-old victim “JC” was able to crawl away from the taxi, but his 5-year-old cousin “Ismael” was in critical condition. The latter was rushed to the hospital, but he later on died. 

“Hinahanap niya papa niya, ‘papa, papa.’ Sabi ko, ‘Anak, papunta si papa,” said Ivy Espina, Ismael’s mother. 

(He was looking for his papa as he uttered, ‘papa, papa’. I told him, ‘Son, your papa will arrive soon.’) 

“Mga ilang salita lang siya sa akin, sabi niya madilim daw paningin niya, wala raw siyang makita,” said Robert Mangunay, the victim’s father. 

(He only had a few words to say to me. He told me that his vision is dark and he cannot see anything.) 

The parents said that they were inside their home to repair a washing machine, which is their source of income when the incident happened. They already talked to the taxi driver. 

Meanwhile, JC is still in the hospital after suffering broken bones and several bruises. 

“Naaawa ako siyempre. Masakit bilang ina na ganun ang nangyari sa anak ko,” said mother Jamaica Pascual. 

(I feel sorry for my son. It pains a mother to know that such a thing happened to her child.) 

The taxi driver was brought to the traffic center of North Caloocan, but was released as the families of the victims have yet to file charges against him. 

“Nag-insist yung family na mag-desistance kaya walang choice ang investigator natin kundi i-release yung suspect. Kinakailangan kasi ng family yung immediate assistance, kaya siguro nag-decide sila na mag-areglo.” said P/Capt. Nelson Dizon of the Philippine National Police Caloocan North Police Station. 

(The family insisted on desisting so the investigator had no choice but to release the suspect. The family could be in need of assistance that’s why they decided to make arrangements with the driver.) 

But Ismael’s family said that they would push through with the filing of a case if the driver would not take accountability for the incident. 

“Kapag hindi nila inano, hinarap yung problema nila, itutuloy namin yung kaso sa kanila,” said Mangunay. 

(If he will not face the problem, we will continue with the filing of the case.) 

GMA Integrated News reached out to the taxi driver for comment.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News