Cop injured after truck hits patrol car

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A policeman was injured after his driven patrol car was allegedly hit by a truck loaded with gallons of water along the national highway of Sitio Ubas, Barangay Mabini, Escalante City, Negros Occidental Thursday night.

Wounded was Police Master Sergeant Joy Malaque, 44, a personnel of Toboso Municipal Police Station.

His two companion-passengers identified as Jotham Villaflor, 50, of Barangay San Isidro, and Onyl Maglasang, 24, of Barangay Poblacion, both residents of Toboso town, and government workers assigned at the said police station, were unharmed.

Police Corporal Romulo Allego, traffic investigator of Escalante City Police Station, said Malaque was on his way to the police station from Bacolod when an alleged speeding truck driven by Jobert Gabas, 22, of Barangay Tabun-ac, Toboso town, allegedly sideswiped his vehicle.

Allego said Malaque sustained a lacerated wound on his left knee and had a dislocated shoulder. He was already discharged from the hospital.

Allego said Gabas and his helper fled but surrendered to the authorities the following day, accompanied by their employer.

Gabas said they ran because they felt scared, but he admitted that he was reportedly drunk when he was driving the truck, Allego said.

Charges for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and physical injury will be filed against Gabas, who is detained at Escalante City Police Station.