5 hurt as SUV of Dato Arroyo’s wife rams jeep

BATANGAS, Philippines – At least five people sustained injuries when the sport utility vehicle carrying the wife and daughter of Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo bumped a passenger jeepney in Sto. Tomas town this province last Monday morning, police said.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, said Antonio Solomon, driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser bearing Mrs. Victoria Arroyo and her daughter Ive, lost control of the wheel, causing the vehicle to ram the rear portion of the passenger jeepney along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay San Vicente at around 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Investigators said the jeepney was unloading passengers when the accident occurred. Both vehicles were northbound.

Because of the impact, five passengers of the jeepney were injured and rushed to the St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. They were identified as Marisol Villegas, Marilou Desio, Joar Sasis, Andy Niem, and Hazel Reyes.

Police said Mrs. Arroyo and her daughter were unhurt. Arroyo was not with his family when the accident happened.

After the accident, Mrs. Arroyo and her daughter were transferred to a back-up vehicle by their bodyguards and proceeded toward Manila.

Acio said the case was settled amicably with the Arroyos shouldering the hospital bills of the five victims.