By: Jennifer P. Rendon and Emme Rose Santiagudo
THE mother of the person who drove a sports car that dragged two public school teachers to their deaths on June 15, 2019 sought understanding and forgiveness for what she described as an accident.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo station manager John Paul Tia on Tuesday, Perla Valencia, mother of June Paul Valencia, repeatedly asked forgiveness her son.
Perla, who worked as a caregiver in the US for 21 years, claimed that her son was also traumatized by the deaths of Joe Marie Osano, principal of La Paz 2 Elementary School; and his wife Alnie Dinah Osano, a teacher of Ticud Elementary School in La Paz, Iloilo City.
June Paul drove the Mazda sports that ran over the Osano as they were crossing Diversion Road in Mandurriao district early Saturday morning.
According to his mother, June Paul allegedly withdrew money from an automated teller machine and was on his way home to Mandurriao when he hit the couple who was on their way for a morning jog at the Esplanade.
Mrs. Valencia asked for understanding and assured that her son would face the charges against him.
Earlier reports claimed that the suspect’s family has allegedly offered a P2 million settlement for the couple’s death, but Perla denied the report saying that such offer is untimely and callous.
“I am thankful that the families of the victims did not berate or harm us when we met. We sincrerly asked forgiveness for this tragedy,” Perla said in between sobs.
SHOW CAUSE ORDER
Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office 6 (LTO-6) served a show cause to June Paul on Tuesday.
But he did not personally receive the order when personnel from the LTO-Operations Division delivered the letter to their home at Villa Perla Subdivision in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. A relative received the order on his behalf.
Jojo Jamerlan, deputy chief of the LTO-Operations Division, said they can initiate an investigation into the road incident that killed two persons.
LTO-6 Director Roland Ramos can also order an automatic probe if Valencia committed reckless driving.
Valencia’s driver’s license was automatically suspended upon receiving the order.
The show cause order also compelled him to report to LTO within five days from the day he received the order.
“He should appear at our office or explain in writing why the agency should not cancel, suspend, or revoked his license,” Jamerlan said.
While the respondent would be required to reply and explain his side within five days upon receipt of the order, Jamerlan said they will give ample time for the driver to reply on the order.
“He was given five days to reply but we will give ample time kay in the first place I think it’s not that he doesn’t want to receive the letter ang show cause order, somebody from their household received it because daw kadamo sang media, I understand daw nahuya siya guro,” he said.
Jamerlan emphasized that the side of the driver is part of their investigation process to decide if they need to perpetually revoke his driver’s license.
“In our investigation process, bisan ini siya magsubmit sang iya side marender kami gihapon resolution sa possible revocation sang iya lisensya. Kung indi magsabat daw gin-void mo imo right to defend yourself, te ma-render kami ya direction or decision based on the evidence on hand,” he said.
The normal course of the investigation would take about more than one month, according to Jamerlan.
“We have a due process. Indi man agad-agad that perpetual revocation mung, meaning i-deprive mo ang isa tawo sang iya privilege to use his motor vehicle, we have to be prudent man siguro,” he said.
The 32-year-old Valencia used to have an international driver’s license but applied for a Philippine driver’s license sometime in 2016.
He is out on a bail hours after he sideswiped and killed the Osanos.
Meanwhile, the families of the victims are finalizing the charges to be filed against Valencia.
