Cop dies in road crash in Iloilo City

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A policeman died following a road crash late on the evening of August 2 in Lapuz, Iloilo City.

Staff Sergeant Jiven Libero, 34, a resident of Calinog, Iloilo, succumbed to multiple injuries sustained in the accident.

Libero, who joined the police service in 2015, was assigned to the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Headquarters Support Unit based at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

According to police reports, Libero was driving his Honda motorcycle home around 10:20 p.m. on Friday when the incident occurred.

While navigating Barangay Loboc, Lapuz, a Nissan Urvan van (license plate FAQ 1290) encroached on the opposite lane and collided with Libero’s motorcycle.

The van was driven by Seaman First Class Matt Anderson Olaguir, a 26-year-old member of the Philippine Coast Guard from Barangay Biabas, Ubay, Bohol.

Due to the impact, Libero’s helmet came off, and both the motorcycle and van incurred significant damage from the head-on collision.

Lieutenant Colonel Ethan Estaya, chief of the Iloilo City Police Office-Traffic Management Unit, said Olaguir claimed that the road was slippery, causing him to swerve into the opposite lane.

A barangay tanod who witnessed the incident said there was no chance for Libero to evade the collision.

“It was so sudden. The suspect appeared to have gone out of his lane and crashed into the motorcycle. Both appeared to be running at high speed,” Estaya said.

There were no other vehicles in the immediate vicinity at the time of the incident.

Estaya added that police investigators who responded to the scene found no evidence that Olaguir was under the influence of alcohol.

He was immediately arrested, while Libero was rushed to St. Paul’s Hospital, where he later died.

Estaya confirmed that criminal charges for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and damage to property have been filed against Olaguir.