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Friday, July 28, 2006
'No intimidation, no whitewash'
By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan and Nicolas C. Delfin
BACOLOD City Police Office Director Pedro Merced dismissed Thursday rumors circulating around the city that the "controversial" San Sebastian-Lacson mishap which killed a school teacher Friday last week will end up to nothing.
"We are not sleeping on the case. We will really file criminal charges against the two suspects - Lorenzo Suatengco and Marvin Ortiz. We are just waiting for the timing. As of now, we are still on the process of collating all the data and vital information on the case," Merced told Sun.Star in a telephone interview Thursday.
Merced, a senior superintendent, added that charges of homicide through reckless imprudence is most likely the case to be filed against Suatengco and Ortiz.
He also denied speculations that he is now being intimidated by some "forces" just to impede the investigation.
"No, no, no! There's no such thing as intimidation and I can't be intimidated. Those who are spreading these kind of rumors, I challenge them to face me," he said.
Merced also denied that there will be a whitewash on the case later.
Since both teenagers admitted to our investigators that they were doing drag race at the time of the incident, then they could be held liable for criminal and civil liabilities.
As to reports of a witness who claims it was Ortiz and not Suatengco's car that bumped Augusto De Leon's motorcycle, Merced said it will not free Suatengco from any criminal and civil liabilities.
"No matter whose vehicle bumped De Leon's motorcycle which resulted to his instant death, both Suatengco and Ortiz will be held equally liable for De Leon's death," says Merced.
The "controversial" mishap is exactly seven days old today.
Suatengco, currently the president of the Youth Council Federation in the province is still being confined at the Riverside Medical Center and is scheduled to undergo knee surgery.
Ortiz, on the other hand, is also being confined at Our Bacolod Lady of Mercy Speciality Hospital.
His provisionary driver license is also being questioned.
Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Bacolod head of licensing division Leopoldo Gepes said that Ortiz' driver's license is "fake."
Gepes said that the suspect's driver license has a different feature compared to the official license of LTO.
Ortiz's name cannot be found also in LTO's computer listing, he added.
Only for civil liabilities
On the part of the De Leons, lawyer Raymundo Pandan, acting as legal counsel, said there is no truth to reports of them submitting to amicable settlement with the Suatengcos or Ortizes.
The family, he said will only make settlement on the civil liabilities of the suspects like on the loss of life and earning and exemplary and moral damages. But as to the criminal charges, Pandan stressed, "The De Leon's won't give in."
"What are we waiting right now is for the police to finalize their investigation," he added.
SSA laments
Apart from De Leon's family, the entire St. Scholastica's Academy in Bacolod is also mourning on his demise.
"He is a great loss to the school since we consider him as an asset," Virginia Jacela, SSA's assistant principal lamented.
Jacela further described De Leon as a good father who works hard to provide the needs of his family.
"He's also a good teacher who always makes his class discussions interesting and enjoyable each day. In fact, his students at the grade school are always looking forward for his natural but extraordinary approach during class meetings," she also said.
"Because of his untimely death, we, at the SSA are deeply saddened as we sympathize with his family whom he has left," said Jacela.
With regards to the outcome of the investigation, she said they entrust it all to the authorities.
SSA is set to hold a special mass on August 3 as tribute to De Leon.
(July 28, 2006 issue)
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