Town execs to honor fallen frontline heroes

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Sangguniang Bayan(SB) of Sigma, Capiz will honor two frontliners who were killed in a road mishap recently in Brgy. Ondoy Ivisan, Capiz.

SB member Esperidion “Speed” Pelaez will sponsor a resolution giving recognition to Darius Yap and Ernie Fulgencio who were killed when their rescue ambulance collided with a Mitsubishi Montero Sport owned and allegedly driven by Police Captain Alcer Monsera, the police chief of Dumalag Municipal Police Station.

Pelaez said that he personally felt the sadness of the families of the two fallen responding frontliners who died while on duty.

He said the two and their colleague John Rey Castillon, who was injured in the accident, should be recognized for their laudable performance as members of the Sigma Response Team (SRT).

The municipal government of Sigma, through Mayor Christopher Andaya, will extend financial assistance to the families of the victims.

On Friday last week, charges for reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide, multiple serious physical injuries and damage to property were filed against Monsera before the Capiz Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Police Captain Gregg Anthony Salbang, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of Ivisan Municipal Police Station, said the charges ended up in regular filing because some of the important documents like the death certificates were not available in time for the inquest proceedings.

Investigation by the Ivisan police indicated that Monsera himself drove the Mitsubishi Montero vehicle that crashed into an ambulance, killing two emergency responders.

Initially, witnesses claimed that a woman who was later identified as Romelyn Baldado, 19, was the driver of the vehicle.

Salbang encouraged other witnesses to cooperate with the police.

Meanwhile, Police Colonel Julio Gustilo Jr., Capiz police director, ordered the administrative relief of Monsera as OIC of Dumalag police station.

Gustilo said Monsera cannot immediately return to his post after being discharged from the hospital as he will be placed at the Provincial Holding and Accounting Unit of Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) while waiting for the results of the investigation.

Gustilo assured the families of the victims that proper investigation will be conducted to determine who is at fault.

He added that there will be no white-washing or cover-up in the investigation on the road vehicular accident at Brgy. Ondoy, Ivisan, Capiz Monday evening which killed two frontliners and injured four others, including the police chief of Dumalag town.

Aside from Moncera and Castillon, other injuries of the accident were Romelyn Gondao Baldado, 19, of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental and Oliver Clarito Aguihap, 21, of Barangay Culajao, Roxas City.

The Ivisan police reported that the ambulance was headed towards Roxas City to fetch Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROF) at the Villareal Stadium while the SUV was on its way to Sigma town.