Pangasinan lawmaker safe, motorcycle rider hurt in Tarlac road accident

PANGASINAN Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil WILLIE LOMIBAO / CONTRIBUTOR

DAGUPAN CITY — Other than neck pains, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil suffered no injuries after a motorcycle hit his van on Friday morning at Paniqui town in Tarlac province, a statement from his office said.

But the motorcycle rider, Renato Macato, was hurt.

Bataoil was on his way home to Lingayen town in Pangasinan province at 4:50 a.m. when his vehicle was hit by the motorcycle traversing the Paniqui-Camiling road in Barangay Mabilang.

Bataoil’s van was on the westbound lane of the highway, when Macato’s motorcycle swerved to avoid rocks piled on a newly cemented road, wrecking the left fender and bumper of Bataoil’s vehicle, the police said.

Bataoil and his driver, Armando Manlongat, took Macato to the Teodoro Memorial Hospital and later to the Sto. Nino Hospital in Camiling town for a CT scan.

Macato is out of danger but was advised to stay in the hospital for observation, according to the statement.

Bataoil said he would take care of Macato’s hospital expenses.

“Just jarred by the incident, Congressman Bataoil assures everyone that [he and his driver] are safe and there’s nothing to worry about,” the statement said.