Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Drag race victims complain the lack of financial support
* Police Regional Office 6 orders probe
* Dumangas Mayor Rolando Distura forms fact-finding body
FAMILIES of those injured in the deadly drag race in Dumangas, Iloilo Saturday night are complaining of lack of financial support from the Municipal Government and Panay Auto Club, the event's organizers.
Among those injured was tanod member Noel Dequiña, whose leg was cut and who slipped into a coma, is now confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City.
His daughter, interviewed by Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, said they need money for his father's medicines because they did receive financial assistance from Mayor Rolando Distura and Panay Auto Club.
The father of Allan Diaz, 27, who is suffering from a lung injury, said their family is scraping the bottom just to buy medicines for Allan.
Tessie Derayunan, mother of Tenar, 19, said they also need money for medicines.
All in all, the three patients only received P1,300 from the organizers.
Distura earlier promised to held all the victims while the lawyer of Panay Auto Club, Warren Terraña, said his client is also extending financial assistance.
The drag race claimed the lives of two tanod members and injured 17 spectators when a white car, driven by John Jucaban, swerved towards the right and hit the spectators, including two tanods members in-charge of the crowd control.
Killed were Rolando Palma and Emilio Dionio.
Also injured were Jaypee Penar, 17; Melvin Brillantes, 12; Nestor Debuque, 24; Jepton Dino, 8; Ramil Ramiro, 28; Gaspar Tumpang, 29; Medardo Dimzon, 48; Portia Lo, 18; Noel Galura, 35; and Edwin Dupit, 45. Others were Alex Bayate, Andres Demarana, Jero Gregorio and Jennifer Bionat.
Investigation
Meanwhile, Chief Supt. Doroteo Reyes II, police regional director, ordered the Iloilo Provincial Police Office to conduct an investigation on the deadly drag race.
In Dumangas, Distura also formed a fact-finding committee, headed by the municipal engineer.
The mayor earlier said the venue was secured and the Panay Auto Club coordinated with the 4th Provincial Mobile Group, Dumangas Police Station and Bureau of Fire Protection. Two ambulance trucks were also deployed.
(April 27, 2005 issue)
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