The 26-year-old pickup truck driver who hit and killed three persons in San Dionisio town, Proviince of Iloilo may lose his driver’s license, according to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) 6.
He hit a motorcycle evening on November 9, 2024 on his way to Estancia for a meeting. The three persons on board the motorcycle were dragged about 100 meters away.
The victims were identified to be live-in partners, while the other one is the woman’s 15-year-old daughter from a previous domestic relationship.
The couple died on the spot, based on police report, while the daughter was taken to the hospital but was pronounced there dead on arrival.
“There’s a big possibility na ma-revoke. Yan ang sinasabi ko na nakadepende yan sa finding ng ating PNP [Philippine National Police],” Atty. Gaudioso Geduspan II, LTO 6 director, said.
On November 11, 2024, the suspect was released from police custody after the 18-hour reglementary period lapsed. The eldest daughter of the woman-victim has not yet submitted a death certificate and letter of complaint at the police station.
In line with the release, the Regional Investigation Unit of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) 6 will investigate the San Dionisio Municipal Police whether they have accountability on not filing a case themselves against the driver.
“Ini-invite namin ang mga kaanak or family ng victims kung pwede kami’g mag-coordinate sa kanila, at kami rin, bukas ang aming tanggapan sa magrereklamo o kung may queries sila regarding sa legal na hakbang against sa mga police,” Atty. Michelle Benitez Yotoko, spokesperson of NAPOLCOM 6, said.
However, according to the police, both parties have arrived at a settlement on November 12, 2024.
In a Facebook post, the woman-victim’s other daughter, Khelsy Ann Asupra, said that though she aspires to seek justice for the death of her loved ones – younger sister, mother, and stepfather, but she is not capable of going through a legal battle. In the said post, she further apologized to the victims.
To recall, the pickup truck had overtaken the motorcyle in Barangay Canas, San Dionisio.
According to police investigation, the three victims from Barangay Cubay in San Dionisio were headed for the town of Carles to attend a funeral vigil on Saturday night, November 9, 2024.
The speeding pickup truck had overtaken them but hit them instead.
The victims who were identified as live-in partners Artemio Arabe, 64 years old, and Rosemary Asupra, 50 years old, and the woman’s 15-year-old daughter "Angela" sustained fatal injuries on the head.
The victims were not wearing crash helmets.
The driver of the pickup truck was identified as a certain “Alex,” a businessman.
Aside from the three, Alex also rammed into another motorcycle that injured another rider.
Alex proceeded reportedly to the town of Batad and left his vehicle there before he went back to San Dionisio to surrender to the authorities.
According to Alex, because the area is dark he did not notice of the motorcycle. He admitted to driving in a hurry to get to the town of Estancia for a meeting.
Cases for reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide and reckless imprudence resulting to physical injury are set to be filed against him.
“Kung may magco-complain against sa driver, kami mismo sa police station ang magca-cater niyan at magsusumite ng report sa LTO,” San Dionisio Municipal Police Station officer in charge, Captain Edward Villanis said.
