A CHRISTMAS party held at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 headquarters ended in tragedy when a Mitsubishi Pajero Wagon driven by a retired police official hit seven other retirees and damaged two vehicles Sunday night.
Retired Col. Benjamin Babael Miaga, 66, was about to leave the PRO 7 quadrangle and was backing up from his parking space when he lost control of his vehicle, which then plowed a table and hit a Toyota sedan and Kia Picanto parked some meters away.
The incident took the life of retired police inspector Florefino Lapinid, 65.
He was declared dead past Sunday midnight by his attending physician at Chong Hua Hospital, said traffic investigator PO3 Anthony Deligero.
Six other retired policemen identified as SPO4 Ernesto Pacaña, SPO4 Aristo de Gracia, Col. Edmund Binondo, Patrolman Concordio Castañares, SPO4 Teddy Ariza and SPO4 Rodulfo Beduya were taken to private hospitals for injuries.
Pacaña, de Gracia and Castañares were treated at the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital while Binondo, Ariza and Beduya landed at Chong Hua.
Castañares is in critical condition.
Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos has ordered Supt. Audie Villacin, duty staff officer when the incident happened, to complete the investigation into the incident.
Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division, said the affair was only for the PRO 7-Philippine National Police Retirees’ Association.
“We are sorry that one of the victims expired last night. In behalf of (the regional director of) PRO 7, I would like to say my condolences. Life goes on. What happened will be thoroughly investigated by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division,” Oppus told reporters.
Not drunk?
Villacin said they could not conclude yet if Miaga was intoxicated, but some policemen who responded to the scene claimed he smelled of liquor.
Deligero said Miaga may be charged with homicide through reckless imprudence and multiple physical injuries with damage to properties.
He did not place Miaga under arrest because of the immediacy for the latter to provide assistance to the injured victims.
Besides, during the incident, no fatality was reported yet, he added.
Deligero also failed to require Miaga to undergo a liquor test because of the “emergency” for the latter to take care of the injured victims’ needs.
Deligero said when he spoke with Miaga, the latter did not reek of liquor and was not drunk.
Asked about the limits of liquor intake within a police camp, Oppus said they were allowed to drink during parties.
“As long as we can control ourselves as police officers in the service. I cannot say about retirees,” Oppus told reporters.
Good friends
Miaga, who also owns the Pajero with plate number GTV 569, said he is willing to face the complaints to be filed against him.
Miaga is the incumbent president of the Cebu Organization of Retired Policemen, which has a membership of about 200.
“Lain gyud kaayo akong pinaskuhan karon…Kasub-anan. Sala gyud nako. Sayop gyud nako (It’s a bad Christmas gift—sadness. This is my fault),” Miaga said, holding back his tears during the interview.
Estrelita Nacario, 48, Lapinid’s live-in-partner, said that if she would have her way she would not file a complaint against Miaga, as what happened was an accident.
She just appealed for Miaga to support her and her two children.
She said Miaga and Lapinid were good friends, having worked together in a police station under the Cebu City Police Office.
Villacin said Miaga and his wife made sure all the wounded retirees were taken care of and that they immediately produced P20,000 so that Lapinid could be given immediate attention at the hospital.
Accident
Deligero’s investigation showed that the incident occurred at 8:15 p.m. when most of the retired police officers have started leaving the camp’s quadrangle where the party was held.
The program started at 3 p.m. and lasted until past 6 p.m. Several members preferred to stay in the party for some bottles of beer and wine.
Miaga, in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, said that he accidentally stepped on the gas when he put on the automatic car on reverse, causing the vehicle to move backward at a maximum speed.
Lapinid’s body went underneath the car together with the chair where he was seated in.
The Pajero then plowed the left front side portion of a blue Kia Picanto Sedan (YAT 700) owned by retired SPO4 Feliciano Arriola.
Impact
Because of the impact, the Kia Picanto in turn, moved sideward and hit the left front side portion of a Toyota Corolla Sedan (TEV 952) owned and driven by retired Insp. Florencio Diaz.
Arriola said his life was spared when he decided to go over to the men who were in charge of the sound system to offer them drinks.
He was getting ready to leave with Beduya and Pacaña.
Beduya was already by the rear left door while Pacaña was on the right side of the vehicle between the Picanto and the Toyota sedan when the Pajero came careening through.
Arriola denied reports that there was a scuffle among the retirees that ended badly, saying what happened was just an accident. (JTG/MEA)
