BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will be filing multiple charges against the driver of a multi-purpose vehicle involved in a road accident that took the lives of three persons and injured several others during the Good Friday procession on April 18 in Barangay Alangilan here.
The Toyota Innova allegedly driven by an Indian national identified as Jagpret Shingh, 37, a resident of this city’s Barangay Villamonte, first hit a tricycle, then a police patrol vehicle securing the procession, a multicab, and those participating in the procession.
Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, BCPO director, the driver is facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries, and damage to property.
“We are trying our best to file [the charges] within the prescribed period para indi na makagwa ang suspect,” Coronica said.
The suspect was detained at the Police Station 5.
Meanwhile, police identified the first fatality as the 66-year-old lay minister Jonel Solano, a resident of Barangay Alangilan, and the driver of the tricycle. He died on the spot.
Gelvin Tanique, a tanod of the said village, was declared dead-on-arrival in the hospital while Daynah Plohinog died while receiving treatment at the hospitalon Saturday, April 19.
Coronica also confirmed that nine were injured, two of whom were policemen manning the patrol car that led the procession.
Investigations revealed that the accident happened at around 7:20 p.m. while the religious procession was passing along Granada-Alangilan Road in Purok 20.
While they were heading back to the Our Lady of The Most Holy Rosary Parish Church in Barangay Alangilan, the tricycle driven by Solano carrying four parishioners including Tanique was rammed by the speeding Toyota Innova.
The impact of the collision sent the tricycle into the air, landing on the front hood of the police mobile car of that was leading the religious procession.
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said the city government extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured.
It added that the city government is providing immediate medical and burial assistance.
The Diocese of Bacolod, for its part, deeply grieved the tragic incident.
“This is our Good Friday. But we hold fast to the hope that this sorrow and loss will one day open the way to an Easter grace,” read part of its statement./PN
