Man charged for drunk driving

CEBU, Philippines - A 28-year-old man is facing charges before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities for allegedly resisting arrest and for driving under the influence of liquor.

Prosecutor II Rhodna Bacatan recommended P2,000 bail for Ronald Niedo Batiancela for resistance and disobedience to an agent of person in authority and P5,000 bail for a violation of Republic Act 10586 otherwise known as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

Batiancela was driving a Skygo motorcycle on July 18 at around 4:41p.m. along General Maxilom corner Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City when he was apprehended by the complainant, Traffic Officer 1 Francasio dela Cruz for driving the motorcycle in a “negligent, reckless and imprudent manner,” thus causing traffic congestion.

Dela Cruz, of the City Traffic Operations Management, allegedly signaled the driver to stop and guided him to the roadside. However, the accused sped up and hit his legs.

“…the driver accelerated and bumped me at the legs with his driven motorcycle, but I got hold of the clutch of his motorcycle and then they fell on the ground, which gives me time to call for a backup,” the judicial affidavit reads.

The accused was brought to the hospital and was subjected to an alcohol test wherein he was found positive.

During inquest proceeding, Batiancela chose not to file a counter-affidavit to negate the allegations filed against him and instead manifested to face the charges in court.

Meanwhile, a Korean National who figured in a vehicular accident and hit and killed a female traffic enforcer in Balamban-Talamban corridor last week has assured not to run from her responsibilities.

 The assurance was relayed by Sun Kyung Heo’s legal counsel in a visit Wednesday to the office of Cebu City Acting Mayor Edgardo Labella.

“Her counsel personally went to my office manifesting to us with our City Legal Officer lawyer Jerone Castillo that the Korean will never leave the country while the case is still pending in court,” Labella told reporters yesterday.

Heo, the driver of the vehicle that hit enforcer Maria Teresa Bascones was recently freed after posting bail of P30,000 for the charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide filed by CITOM.

Labella said he is confident that Heo could not easily leave the country as her children are currently studying in the city, though her husband is working in China.

According to Labella, the Korean national took charge of all the expenses from hospitalization, wake, and financial assistance to the victim’s family, among others.

In an agreement, Labella said the Korean’s counsel and the city government through Castillo concurred that “the immediate relatives of Bascones will never be asked to sign anything be it a form of a waiver or assistance without the opinion of the city legal office.” (FREEMAN)