LTO employee nabbed after hit-and-run in Antipolo City; two women injured

An employee of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) was arrested following a hit-and-run incident on Sumulong Highway in Antipolo City that injured at least two women.

In an exclusive “24 Oras Weekend” report by Jonathan Andal on Sunday, a group of coworkers was using a pedestrian crosswalk on the evening of August 14 when a vehicle struck them and fled the scene.

In dashcam footage captured by an off-duty police officer, the victims were seen sprawling on the ground as the vehicle sped away.

PEMS Andy Evangelista, the police officer who witnessed the incident, pursued the suspect. During the 10-minute chase, the vehicle was captured on dashcam overtaking other cars, counterflowing into oncoming traffic, and running a red light before the driver was ultimately cornered and arrested.

“Nagpakilala akong pulis. Sabi ko, ‘May nabangga ka doon sa may Sumulong Highway. Kanina pa kita hinahabol. Huminto ka na,’“ Evangelista recalled.

(I identified myself as a police officer. I told him, ‘You hit someone back on Sumulong Highway. I’ve been chasing you—pull over now.)

“And then sinabi niya sa ‘kin, ‘Tatabi na po ako.’ Then nilapitan ko siya, sabi ko, ‘Huwag kang kikilos nang masama,’” he added.

(He replied, ‘I’m pulling over, sir.’ When I approached him, I told him, ‘Don’t try anything foolish.’)

The driver is currently detained at the Antipolo Police Precinct in Cogeo. He declined to issue a statement. He faces charges for reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries, as well as abandonment of one's own victim.

According to Evangelista, the driver admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and claimed he was unaware he had hit any pedestrians.

“Ayon sa kaniya, hindi niya alam na meron siyang nabangga. Tapos nung tinanong ko rin siya kung nakainom siya, inamin niyang nakainom siya. Tinanong ko kung saan siya nakainom, somewhere in Quezon City, nasabi niya sa ‘kin,” Evangelista said.

(He claimed he didn't know he hit anyone. When I asked if he had been drinking, he admitted he had. He said he was drinking somewhere in Quezon City.)

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao has ordered the immediate dismissal of the driver from government service and the permanent revocation of his driver's license.

“Kasi LTO ka na empleyado e. Alam mo ‘yung dapat na hindi ginagawa. Ang lakas ng loob nitong taong ito na magmaneha nang lasing tapos mang-hit-and-run pa,” Lacanilao said.

(You’re an LTO employee—you should know better. The nerve of this person to drive drunk and then commit a hit-and-run.)

“… Hindi dapat tino-tolerate ‘yung ganyan. Kung kaya natin gawin ‘yung manghuli sa ibang tao, mas kaya namin hulihin ‘yung mga tao namin,” he added.

(This behavior will not be tolerated. If we can enforce the law against the general public, we can certainly enforce it against our own personnel.)

Andal’s report noted that due to the force of the impact, the hood of the suspect's vehicle sustained visible dents.

One of the victims expressed determination to press charges.

“Pagkabangga niya sa akin, kitang-kita ko pa tumigil siya nang kaunti. Saka siya dumere-deretso. So paanong hindi niya alam?” a victim said.

(Right after hitting me, I clearly saw his vehicle slow down briefly before speeding off. So how could he claim he didn't know?)

“Government employee pala siya. LTO pa ha, na dapat alam ‘yung rules doon sa kalsada,” the victim added.

(To think he’s a government employee—working for the LTO, no less—where he's expected to know road rules best.)

The two female victims sustained severe bruises and minor injuries across their bodies, but both have since been discharged from the hospital. — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BM, GMA News