AN OLYMPIAN died, while four others were injured in separate road accidents in Bago City, Negros Occidental.
On April 20, Leopoldo Cantancio Jr., 54, of Purok Malipayon, Barangay Atipuluan, was driving his motorcycle on his way home when he overshoots and hit an electrical post at Purok Narra, Barangay Malingin.
He succumbed to head injuries.
Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo, in a radio interview, expressed his condolences to the family of Cantancio, who was also a retired police officer.
The mayor remembered Cantancio as an icon for his achievements in the field of sports.
“He was an icon and he once made us proud,” Yulo said.
Yulo also said that Cantancio was supposed to run for village councilman after serving as purok president in his village.
“We mourn the death of a friend,” Yulo said.
Cantancio previously joined the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and Seoul, South Korea, in 1984 and 1988, respectively.
He was also a Silver medalist during the 1986 Asian Games and Bronze medalist during the 1990 Asian Games.
Meanwhile, a retired police officer and three others were injured after they figured in an accident along the national highway of Purok Proper North in Barangay Taloc Saturday morning, April 21.
Police identified the victims as retired chief superintendent Milko Lirazan, 59; Jeson Marfil, 43, of Roxas City, Capiz; and Paquito Malunes Jr., 47, of Barangay Taloc. Also wounded was Julie Mar Valencia, 25, of Isabela town.
Senior Inspector Hercules Trigue, deputy chief for administration of Bago City Police Station, said three motorcycles were tailing Lirazan, former chief of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, when he slowed down to make a left turn on his way home.
The motorcycle driven by Valencia hit the motorcycle of Marfil, which he was tailing while Lirazan, who was riding a bicycle, was hit by the latter.
Marfil's motorcycle also hit by another motorcycle driven by Malunes.
All sustained minor injuries and were brought to a hospital.