NAPOLCOM, PNP review traffic procedures after LRT-1 fall incident

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now reviewing police traffic procedures after a driver nearly faced charges for hitting a student who fell from the platform of the Manila Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) at FPJ Station in Quezon City.

In a statement, NAPOLCOM Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Vicente Calinisan said the review would prevent "absurd results" in the handling of similar incidents.

"We really need to review our police traffic procedures to avoid absurd results. How can there be 'Reckless Imprudence Resulting to Homicide' if the ultimate fact is that the person fell from the sky?" he said.

"The NAPOLCOM and the PNP have already initiated a study of traffic procedures with the aim of implementing necessary reforms," he added.

For Calinisan, the circumstances of the incident suggest that no amount of due diligence from motorists could have prevented what happened.

"Any lawyer worth his salt would agree that no amount of due diligence could have prevented that type of incident. Depriving a clearly innocent person of liberty under the guise of standard procedure is contrary to the tenets of justice," he said.

On Thursday, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the father of the deceased student will not press charges against the driver who reportedly hit the victim after the fall.

The driver was released from custody on Thursday afternoon after the father executed a notarized letter stating that he is not pursuing a complaint against the driver.

Initial investigation and review of CCTV footage revealed no clear signs of negligence on the part of the driver, according to the police. — VDV, GMA Integrated News