By Jennifer P. Rendon and Emme Rose Santiagudo
A hospital worker who was about to get married in June 2020 was killed in a vehicular incident late evening of May 24, 2020 at Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The victim was identified as Henry Jun Jardio, 30, a radiology technologist at Amosup Seamen’s Hospital Iloilo, and resident of Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao district.
Police Staff Sergeant Jessie Cabial, Iloilo City Police Office-Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Unit (ICPO-TEIU) investigator, said the victim was about to go home from work when the incident happened.
The victim was navigating a turnaround at Pison Avenue in Barangay San Rafael when a Toyota Altis sedan encroached his lane and hit his motorcycle.
Cabial said the suspect, Indian national Harjinder Gill, 44, of Barangay Taft North, Mandurriao, may have miscalculated his turn causing him to cut into the motorcycle’s lane.
The impact threw Jardiolin off his motorcycle and landed on the car’s windshield.
Gill momentarily stopped as security personnel of the Atria District rushed in to help.
But instead of alighting from his car, the suspect fled from the crime scene. He went to Barangay Tabucan, as Atria District security personnel onboard a motorcycle and pick-up chased after him.
As he was navigating the approach of Carpenter’s Bridge towards Molo district, he again hit another motorcycle.
The motorcycle was driven by Bonn Seann Sanz of San Jose, Molo; John Chasmer Tupas of Barotac Viejo, Iloilo; and Jane Ricaforte of Kalibo, Aklan.
Sanz, a call center agent, was driving the motorcycle and was about to bring his colleagues home when the accident happened.
Tupas allegedly jumped off the motorcycle before they got hit by the suspect’s car.
DRUNK DRIVING?
Without a breath analyzer test, the police cannot conclude if Gill was drunk during the twin incidents.
“But he was reeking with liquor when he was arrested,” Cabial said.
When asked why he was still on the road during the curfew, Gill claimed that he was on his way home came from his shop on Benigno Aquino Ave. (Diversion Road), Mandurriao.
But Cabial noted that Barangay San Rafael is “out of the way” for someone wishing to go home to Taft North village.
Gill has yet to explain why he left Jardio behind, which was a clear case of hit-and-run.
Meanwhile, Cabial said he was not aware that the QualiMed Hospital, which is several meters from where the incident happened, had turned down the victim.
“When I arrived, the victim was still slumped on the pavement. I was then informed that the suspect was arrested at Barangay Tabucan, so I rushed in the area,” he said.
But Cabial said he saw medical personnel of QualiMed responding to the area.
Jardio, who was wearing a crash helmet when the incident happened, was conscious and talking.
A QualiMed personnel who knew him was able to contact his family.
“I heard the victim saying he’s working for Amosup and wished to be brought there,” Cabial.
Personnel of the Iloilo City Emergency Responders (ICER) brought him to Amosup Hospital.
He was later rushed to The Medical City in Molo district where he was declared dead on arrival.
Cabial said they already requested for an autopsy to determine his cause of death.
Meanwhile, on its Facebook page, the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office condoled with Jardio’s family.
“We lost a former ICER Emergency Responder, a Radiology technologist and Covid-19 frontliner, Henry Jun Jardio in a vehicular accident in Mandurriao last night at 11:00 pm (May 24, 2020), while going home to Bolilao, Mandurriao. He’s about to celebrate his birthday this June 13 and getting married in June to his fiancé. Police traffic investors are still investigating the official cause. Rest in peace, brother,” the Facebook post stated.
WEDDING
According to Jardio’s fiancée, Pearl Arroyo, they are planning to process the documents for their wedding as soon as the quarantine is lifted in Iloilo City.
“I just lost my riding partner and fiancé at 1am this morning to a drunk car driver. We planned to get married this June, just waited until ma lift ang ECQ and mag open ang mga offices so we can process our documents. Ma birthday pa sya tani this June 13,” she shared in her Facebook.
Arroyo recalled how they both shared their love for motorcycles, animals, and charity and volunteer works.
“We both loved motorcycles. Belonging to different moto clubs, we met during a Unity Ride to northern Iloilo. Together we were admins of Panay Alliance of Riding Enthusiasts where we conducted charity rides that are too many to count. He was also my backup sa pagfeed sa mga stray cats and dogs under the FB group Rescue and Adopt Iloilo,” she said.
Arroyo expressed her grief over the sudden death of her partner.
“You will be deeply missed Hani ko. I love you so much Henry Jun Jardio. I am blessed with your life. Many of us were blessed with your life. It hurts, but I truly thank you Lord God for his life. Rest my love, you are now safe in God Almighty’s arms. No more pain, no more tears,” she said.
