Duterte convoy figures in accident

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – At least eight vehicles in the convoy of President Duterte figured in an accident along the Diversion Road in Davao City on a rainy Saturday night.

Duterte met Malaysian Deputy Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Speaker of Parliament Pandikar Amin Mulia at Davao International Airport at around 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

From the airport, they motored to the Matina Enclaves Residences passing through the Diversion Road that was slippery since it was raining. 

Duterte was unaware of the accident as it involved those at the tail-end of his convoy. 

He did not even know that the accident caused a monstrous traffic jam along the Diversion Road.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, one of those in Duterte’s party that met Hamidi and Mulia at the airport, figured in the accident and his vintage Mercedes-Benz was a total wreck.

He told The STAR that his car was following the vehicles used by the security assigned to Hamidi and Mulia.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Davao Region police director, likewise said the vehicle of the security escorts of the Malaysian officials suddenly stopped, which caused the seven other vehicles at the rear to hit those in front of them.

Dominguez, who was unharmed, said he had to take a taxicab back to Marco Polo Hotel, where his mother was celebrating her 93rd birthday.

Gaerlan said no one was hurt in the incident, but the Toyota Innova used as backup for Dominguez was also totaled.

Witnesses said two police cars, as well as two other vehicles were also hit in the pileup.

Duterte reportedly asked Dominguez to join him in the reception party for Hamidi and Mulia since he was the Cabinet member who was still in town.

However, Dominguez said that he agreed to meet the two Malaysian officials but begged off from the dinner for them because he had to attend his mother’s birthday celebration that night.