Police officer declared brain dead after accident

KIDAPAWAN CITY - A senior police officer here was declared brain dead by attending physicians due to severe head injuries he sustained after the motorcycle he was driving was hit by another motorcycle on New Year’s day, reports said.

Police identified the officer as SPO4 Rene Cartagena Presno, chief executive senior police officer (Cespo) of Kidapawan City Police. He was due to retire from service this year.

Reports said Presno was driving his Loncin motorcycle along the road to Barangay Singao, this city, when he was hit by another speeding motorcycle around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Presno, who was not wearing a crash helmet at that time, hit the cemented road.

Two of the passengers of the motorcycle that hit Presno were also injured during the crash. They were identified as Felicitas Libawan and Nelia Libawan, both residents of Barangay Lanao, this city.

The still unidentified driver, however, sped toward the dark portion of Barangay Singao and left Presno and his two passengers, lying on the road.

It was bystanders and volunteers of the 505 Disaster Rescue Emergencies Assistance and Management (Dream) who rushed the victims to the Kidapawan City Doctors Hospital for treatment.

Lorva, wife of SPO4 Presno, said they were expecting her husband for the New Year’s celebrations in their hometown in Antipas -- about 45 minutes north of this city.

"We did not expect this to happen. It was going to be first family reunion. It was the first time for many years that my eldest daughter would be home for the New Year. The reunion did not happen," said Lorva.

Lorva has called on the driver to surrender and pay for the crime he committed.

Authorities are still clueless as to the identity of the driver as the other two injured passengers also failed to recognize him.

In Kabacan, North Cotabato, a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team identified as Gene Jordan was killed when a gunman shot him twice on his head and chest, around 9 p.m. Tuesday, reports said.

Jordan, was onboard his motorcycle, which he parked just outside a pharmacy located along Rizal Street in Poblacion, Kabacan, when a still unidentified gunman pumped bullets onto him.

Jordan, according to police, attempted to escape but was cornered just few blocks away from the pharmacy where he died instantly.

Police hinted motorcycle theft as the motive in the killing as they could no longer locate the motorcycle of the victim after the shooting incident. (MCM)