Traffic enforcer charged over death of Bulacan vendor

STA. MARIA, Bulacan—A barangay traffic enforcer was charged with homicide after a barbecue vendor died of heart attack while being arrested over an alleged road safety violation here late last week.

Col. Ismael Conde Gauna, Sta. Maria police chief, said Mario Domingo, a traffic enforcer in Barangay Caypombo, was already detained at the municipal jail. He was charged with homicide before the Bulacan Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.

Domingo reportedly accosted Angelito Alcantara, 47, who was driving a motorcycle with his wife on July 1. The couple came from the town’s public market and were heading home to Barangay Pulong Buhangin when Domingo flagged them down.

The suspect then threatened to impound Alcantara’s motorcycle after he failed to show a driver’s license and the motorcycle’s registration.

Alcantara agreed to have his motorcyclist impounded but Domingo then demanded for the motorcycle key, which the latter refused to give. It was at this point that Domingo handcuffed him.

Angeline, the victim’s wife, pleaded to Domingo to stop the arrest as she worried that her husband could collapse due to a heart condition. But Domingo reportedly went on to restrain the victim.

Alcantara suddenly fell to the ground and was rushed to the nearest hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.