Renz Jayson Perez —PHOTO COURTESY OF JJAGH FACEBOOK PAGE
MANILA, Philippines — The family of a 23-year-old nurse who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Manila on Sunday night has asked for help in finding the suspect.
Renz Jayson Perez was riding his bike near the corner of Padre Burgos and Maria Orosa Streets when he was struck reportedly by a black pickup truck, according to the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit.
A witness told authorities that the vehicle fled toward Delpan Bridge after the accident.
Perez was taken to the Philippine General Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival at 8:40 p.m.
“We can’t fathom how this happened to a person like Renz. He didn’t die of [the new coronavirus disease] COVID-19 but he ended up dying like this,” said Vilma Paguio, a relative.
According to a Facebook post of Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital (JJAGH), Perez worked there as a nurse from January to June. “He served bravely and with love the patients at the hospital in the middle of [the COVID-19 pandemic] as a front-liner,” it said.
He was supposed to start working at a Quezon City hospital soon. His father, Ricardo, had even ironed his uniform.