Fisherman Dies After Being Hit by Jeepney

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A fisherman lost his life not at sea, but on the road after a modernized passenger jeepney struck him on the evening of March 8 in Tigbauan, Iloilo.

Reports said Pablo Titular Malaga, 52, was crossing the road in Barangay Atabayan, Tigbauan, at around 7:40 p.m. Saturday when a Hino modernized jeepney hit him.

Capt. Alfred Mansoy, Tigbauan police chief, said the victim had just left home and was heading to the other side of the road to fish when the incident occurred.

The jeepney driver, Kim Andrew Tunay, 40, of Barangay Banuyao, Miag-ao, claimed he did not immediately see Malaga.

While Tunay was driving on a straight road, the area was dimly lit.

Tunay was coming from Miag-ao and was on his way home to Iloilo City when the accident happened.

The vehicle was carrying students and a faculty member from the University of the Philippines High School Iloilo.

Malaga was rushed to Representative Pedro Trono Memorial Hospital in Guimbal but died shortly after.

Authorities said Tunay voluntarily surrendered at the Oton Municipal Police Station following the incident.

Meanwhile, UP Visayas released a statement expressing its deepest sympathies to Malaga’s family.

The university also arranged counseling sessions for the affected students through the Office of Student Affairs to help them cope with the incident.