Possibly same taxi in separate hit-and-run incidents; 1 dead

A police officer was killed while another man was injured in separate hit-and-run incidents in Manila that possibly involved the same taxi.

In a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion on Wednesday, CCTV footage showed a speeding taxi hit a 19-year-old pedestrian on Dapitan Street around midnight on Tuesday.

The victim was left sprawled across the street until an ambulance arrived. He has since been discharged from the hospital.

A jeepney and two motorcycle riders tried to chase down the taxi after it failed to stop, but were unable to catch up to it.

"Nung nabundol na 'yung bata, dire-diretso na po 'yung taxi. Lahat po halos ng humabol walang umabot," a witness said.

"Sobrang bilis po kasi talaga kaya hindi po makikita [ang plate number] agad-agad," she added.

Minutes after the incident, in Sta. Cruz, a taxi also hit and dragged a police officer at least several feet. CCTV footage showing the car speeding through a gas station without stopping.

The victim, identified as Police Officer 3 Roy Francisco Navarro, was taken to the hospital, but was pronounced dead.

Barangay 470, Zone 46 kagawad Joseph Venzon said it is possible that the same taxi was involved in both incidents.

"Palagay ko...magkaugnay kasi nung hinabol itong taxi na 'to. Pagdating doon sa dulo, siyempre sa bilis nung takbo ng taxi, nabangga niya yata 'yung pulis sa may intersection ng A. Mendoza," said Venzon.

"Kung huminto na lang sana siya dito sa amin, di na sana niya napatay 'yung pulis," he added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News