THE police sought help from the City Government of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) to purchase a breath analyzer as part of their campaign against drunk driving after learning that the drowning victim came from a drinking session.
Igacos Police Station commander Police Superintendent Giusseppe A. Geralde said the breath analyzer will be used in their operation considering that drinking session is rampant in the island because of the resorts that are mushrooming in the area.
The city mayor also pledged to help them acquire one to apprehend erring drivers.
“Actually I am requesting our local government to help us in our drive against drunk drivers or driving under the influence of liquor kasi meron tayong spray sana na malaman natin kung gaano kataas yong alcohol content sa body niya,” he said, adding that they don't have such equipment.
“We cannot really determine kung gaano kataas ang alchol content sa body ng tao and if in case na meron tayong mahuli niyan, ang maka-determine lang is doctors,” he added.
He reminded the public anew to refrain from drunk driving to avoid similar incident last Sunday wherein a car driver died and injured another.
“As of this time, ang ginawa namin is we are reminding the drivers especially those galing sa resorts na nag-celebrate na kung pwede hindi na sila mag-drive if they were drinking alcohol,” Geralde said.
Earlier, a vehicle driven by Fernando Pacaldo, 55, manager of DTI Overland Transport Corporation and a resident of Sitio Maag, Barangay Peñaplata, Igacos went straight to the water instead of the ramp of the barge bound for Davao City after a sudden acceleration. He died at about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 25.
Geralde said that the victim came from a baptismal celebration before the incident and got drunk.
Asked whether Pacaldo could have a heart attack based on hearsay, he said that they could not ascertain that speculation as to the cause of his death since there was no autopsy that was conducted.