Police file case vs driver in death of 82-year-old pedestrian

By Paulo DS Papa

POLICE have filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against the 34-year-old company manager who allegedly hit and killed an 82-year-old woman at a pedestrian lane along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Concepcion Grande here on Monday, Oct. 5.

PMAJ Rey Alvarez, commander of Naga City Police Station 2, identified the driver as Janet Pasibe, 34, a company manager and resident of Deca Homes Granvale in Barangay San Felipe, Naga City.

The incident occurred at around 5:40 a.m. when Myrna Guaves, 82, of Zone 7, Barangay Concepcion Grande, was crossing the highway at a designated pedestrian lane.

Police said Pasibe was driving a red pickup truck toward Barangay Del Rosario when the vehicle struck Guaves, throwing her about nine meters from the pedestrian lane.

Guaves was brought to the Bicol Medical Center but was declared dead upon arrival.

During his inspection of the accident scene, Alvarez assured Jonathan Guaves, son of the victim, that police would file the appropriate complaint once the required documents had been completed.

Jonathan said his mother was on her way to the market when he heard a loud impact. He later found her lying on the highway.

Another son, Marlon Guaves, said the family would pursue the case, stressing that their concern goes beyond their mother’s death.

“For us, this is not personal. It is also about drivers respecting pedestrians, especially those using designated crossing areas,” Marlon said.

Police later submitted the case folder to the City Prosecutor’s Office. Pasibe was released on temporary liberty after posting P36,000 bail.

Meanwhile, PCOL Rizaldy Caballero, Naga City police director, has ordered the creation of a police group that will handle cases involving pedestrians who are injured or killed while using designated crossing areas.

PCAPT Jonathan Hapa, officer-in-charge of Naga City Police Station 3, said the group will be tasked, among others, with the swift gathering of evidence and completion of documents needed for the prompt filing of cases before the prosecutor.

Hapa said the measure is intended to prevent procedural lapses similar to those noted in the Sept. 20 death of Jao Francis Per Mancera, 31, a junior high school Filipino teacher at Camarines Sur National High School.

Mancera was hit while crossing a pedestrian lane along M.T. Villanueva Avenue in Barangay Peñafrancia, Naga City.

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) had earlier validated procedural lapses involving several police officials in connection with the Mancera case, including Caballero, PCAPT Sarah San Buenaventura, then station commander of Police Station 3, and PSSG Jaymar Sierra, the case investigator.

Hapa said San Buenaventura was relieved from her post as station commander and reassigned to the office of the city police director.