The owner of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) involved in a hit-and-run incident in Mandaue City was already identified but the police are yet to determine if the owner is also the driver when the incident happened. 

The Traffic Enforcement Unit of Mandaue (TEAM) and the Mandaue City Police have both established the identity of the SUV owner. 

On October 6, 2024, a motorycycle-for-hire driver and his passenger were killed in a road mishap at about 5 a.m., but the SUV driver did not stop and check on the condition of the victims.

The motortaxi driver was identified as Richard Molehon Quia-ot, 43 years old, married, a resident of Barangay Paknaan, while his passenger was identified as Niña Logarta, 54 years old, a widow, and a resident of Barangay Labogon. 

According to Hyll Retuya, assistant head of TEAM, the SUV driver rammed into the motorcycle driven by Quia-ot, but did not surrender to the police. 

Retuya said they learned that the SUV driver, through his lawyer, expressed interest to arrange a settlement with the grieving families. 

Retuya disclosed that Logarta, the passenger, is a Job Order employee of one of city councilors in Mandaue.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Mercy Villaro, spokesperson of the Mandaue City Police, said that like TEAM they have already pinpointed the owner of the SUV. 

Villaro refused to reveal the identity while investigation is going on. 

Members of TEAM have continued tracing the route of the SUV, via CCTV footage, from his point of origin to the point where the car was parked. 

“Nakakita sa pag-agi nianang sakyanan, especially sa iyang pagnaug sa subdivision ug sa pag-transport sa bodega diin last kining nakita kon asa kini naka-park after sa incident,” Retuya said. 

(via Albert Aballe/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)