3 cops injured, 2 dead in road accidents

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Three policemen were wounded and two persons were killed in separate road accidents in Makato, Aklan on March 6.

RICARDO PALMES

Ricardo Llanera Palmes, resident of Calinog, Iloilo, was driving his Nissan Urvan passenger van en route to Caticlan, Malay, Aklan with he accidentally side swept the police officers and a truck driver at around 10:30 p.m. at Calangcang National Highway.

“Wala ko kabalo na may nadisgrasya kag may mga pulis dira sa lugar. Sa tunga ang truck kag motor na may ara gali mga pulis ga imbestigar sa insidente. Sa pinyar ku mga pahinante sang truck ang nabungguan ku,” Palmes said while he was in custody in Kalibo police station.

The 61-year old suspect said “he jumped off the passenger van and rode a motorcycle towards Kalibo” after the incident. He told the Kalibo police he feared for his safety.

“Madiresto ko tani sa amon sa Calinog kag didto masurrender. Diri lang ko sa Kalibo police nag surrender kag indi didto sa Makato basi may mga paryentes ang naaksidente ku sa Makato,” he added.

Palmes has sought forgiveness from the victims’ families and their loved ones.

Prior to the incident, a motorcycle driven by 46-year old Ervin Melanio from Cabatanga, Makato, Aklan accidentally collided with a truck parked along the highway at around 10 p.m. at Calangcang, Makato, Aklan.

Melanio succumbed to injuries in a local hospital and was declared dead on arrival.

Four responding police officers of Makato police station then responded in the crime scene. Unfortunately, while they were investigating the road accident in the national highway, Palmes failed to stop his passenger van and struck the motorcycle and the truck.

PO3 Rufino Donato at a private hospital / PHOTO GRAZIANG MAKULIT

The truck driver identified as Rodulfo Autor from Bicol, who was standing near the police officers, was also killed. Five passengers, who rented the Nissan Urvan for P3,000 to Caticlan from Iloilo, escaped unhurt.  

Three police officers suffered injuries and were taken to hospitals in Kalibo, about 12 kilometers east of Makato. 

Police Officer 2 Kynch Parce, who is in critical condition in Saint Gabriel Medical Center in Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan, will be referred to Iloilo hospital for further medical treatment.

Police Officer 3 Rufino Donato was confined in intensive care unit (ICU) of Panay Health Care Multi-purpose Cooperative Hospital in Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan while Police Officer 2 Niel Serino suffered minor injuries and was declared out-patient by attending physicians.  

Police are still investigating the incident. 

The article was originally published by independent online blog Aklan Forum Journal. The unrestricted use in print or radio, publication and distribution of articles are allowed provided the original author and Aklan Forum Journal are credited.