Truck runs over, kills enforcer

MANILA, Philippines — A traffic enforcer in Caloocan City was killed on Monday after he was run down by a 10-wheeler whose driver had violated the truck ban on Samson Road.

The police said that the incident happened while Jesus Paulite Jr., 61, was flagging down the Mitsubishi trailer truck in front of STI College at 7:50 a.m.

The driver, 32-year-old Romel Cabillos of Bacoor City in Cavite province, had earlier fled from two other enforcers who tried to stop his vehicle.

Instead of stopping, Cabillos ran over Paulite, crushing his head and killing him.

Lt. Col. Ferdinand del Rosario, Caloocan City assistant police chief, said that although the suspect had not confessed to deliberately killing the victim, he would still face a murder charge.

“If he [had no] intention of killing Paulite, then he would not have ignored the first two enforcers in the first place,” Del Rosario added.

He reported that a witness had claimed that two other traffic enforcers received P500 each from Cabillos’ companion to avoid apprehension for violating the truck ban.

Should the police be able to identify the errant enforcers, administrative charges would also be filed against them, Del Rosario said.