MANILA, Philippines — The owner of the vehicle that hit a nurse has already coordinated with law enforcers but the person behind the hit-and-run incident is still being identified, an official of the Manila Police District (MPD) said on Thursday.
In a press conference at MPD Headquarters, MPD public information office chief Lt. Col. Carlo Magno said Saudah Bacaye, who owns the vehicle used by the suspect in the crash, could not determine the identity of the driver in the hit-and-run incident.
“Sabi nila hindi sila yung nagda-drive ng sasakyan nila pero inaamin nila na sa kanila yung sasakyan,” Magno told reporters.
(They said they were not driving the vehicle at the time but they admit that they own the car.)
To recall, Renz Perez was riding his bike along Maria Orosa Street in Manila when a black pickup truck hit him last Sunday. Perez was rushed to Philippine General Hospital where he later died.
Magno said they will hunt the driver, who borrowed the vehicle from Bacaye.
(There is no possible driver yet. The car has been missing for two weeks because it was rented.)
The owner will face civil liability and will also coordinate with the investigation, Magno also noted.
“‘Yung criminal ine-establish pa natin pero so kung sino may ari ng sasakyan of course may civil liability sila. Willing sila magcooperte sa biktima,” he said.
(We are still establishing the criminal aspect but of course the owner of the vehicle has civil liability. They are willing to cooperate with the victim.)
Magno said the owner of the vehicle was found after police traced the conduction sticker of the reported black pickup truck.
Lawyer William delos Santos, legal counsel of Bacaye, said they are willing to assist the family of the victim.
“We will cooperate in this matter… We are willing to give whatever is due to the family of the deceased,” he said during the press briefing.
He added that Bacaye received the report on Thursday morning regarding the involvement of her vehicle in the accident.
“We came to know it only today. There was no intention to hide from the authorities,” delos Santos said.