By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 19-year-old boy died after he was sideswiped by a police car late morning of January 26, 2021 in Janiuay, Iloilo.
John Emmanuel Gaje, a resident of Barangay Calansanan, Badiangan, Iloilo, died after he hit his head on the road.
Corporal Nadje Castor, 31, of Barangay Cahigpn, Calinog town, was driving the Toyota Hi Lux Double Cab patrol car (license plate A1Z 833) of Bingawan Police Station when the incident happened.
Castor, who was with two other police officers, was on his way to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) headquarters at Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, when the incident happened.
They were navigating Barangay Matag-ub, Janiuay, around 11:50AM Tuesday when Gaje suddenly crossed the road.
Castor did not immediately notice the victim as he came from behind a parked jeepney.
The patrol car’s side mirror allegedly hit the boy who fell to the road and hit his head.
He was immediately taken to Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Janiuay town where he was declared dead on arrival.
Castor immediately surrendered to Janiuay Police Station.
Gaje’s kin has already intimated that they would no longer pursue a case against Castor, who already pledged help to the victim’s family.
