2 HPG men probed for escape of driver in fatal Skyway crash

MANILA, Philippines - The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is investigating its two officers over their failure to arrest a businessman allegedly responsible for the death of a police officer and injuries to three others during an accident along the Skyway last Saturday.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leonardo Espina said HPG director Chief Superintendent Arazzad Subong vowed to impose administrative sanctions against his men if evidence warrants.

“There were lapses somewhere and the HPG will dig deeper into the case so corrective measures would be put in place to prevent it from happening again in the future,” Espina said in an interview.

HPG agents are hot on the trail of the suspect identified as Baldwin Co, according to Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte.

Co remains at-large after he was discharged from the Asian Hospital Medical Center in Muntinlupa shortly after the accident.

Co, 50, is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, multiple physical injuries and damage to property filed by the HPG with the Parañaque prosecutor’s office on Tuesday.

Co was the driver of the speeding black Ford GT Mustang without license plate that hit a Mitsubishi Adventure driven by Chief Inspector Ferdinand Rosario last March 30 along the Skyway in Sucat, Parañaque. 

The policeman died in the accident.

Rosario, 37, of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Public Safety Battalion, was in the car along with fellow policemen Police Officer 2 Jun Rey Ybañez, Police Officer 1 Nerilito Palima, and Police Officer 1 Andro Manangan, who were tasked to inspect bus marshals during Holy Week when the accident occurred.

The policemen’s vehicle rolled over the highway before it crashed into a wall. Rosario was reportedly thrown off the Mitsubishi Adventure and was hit by another vehicle.

Co and his companion identified as Grace Animay were also injured in the crash. They were taken to the Asian Hospital for treatment.

Reports, however, said that Co escaped using the back door of the hospital to evade police.

Asian Hospital airs side

In a statement, the management of Asian Hospital said two police officers identified as PO1 Liuan Lifford and PO1 Neil Adapa kept watch while Co and his companion were at the hospital’s emergency room.

More policemen arrived at the hospital and spoke with the suspect’s father, Isidro Co, hospital management said.

“Mr. Isidro Co’s discussion with the police happened outside the ER. He went back inside the ER with three policemen, SPO1 Pagado, PO1 Evasco and PO1 Villafuerte to conduct the investigation. The interview with the patient lasted until 3:24 p.m.,” the hospital’s statement read.

The hospital said all policemen left after questioning Co.

It denied that Co escaped using the back door.

It also said that Pagado and Evasco returned to the hospital at 5:39 p.m. and questioned the security guard why Co was allowed to leave the hospital. – With Perseus Echeminada, Cecille Suerte Felipe