FILE PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III. Senate PRIB / Bibo Nueva España
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Saturday urged Congress for the passage of a bill that would make imprisonment certain for convicted reckless drivers, especially when the victim dies.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1016, the senator argued that convicted irresponsible drivers whose negligence resulted in the death of a person should not be given the option of probation as provided under existing rules.
“It is about time to put motorists on notice, be careful on the road or else face prison time. We can do this by removing the option for probation for convicted reckless drivers,” Pimentel said in a statement.
He cited a recent case where a four-year-old boy died in a car after being run over by an SUV and a bus along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
“This is among hundreds, if not thousands, of heartbreaking stories of road accidents that we hear and see every day. How many innocent and precious kids do we have to lose in fatal road accidents before we act and make our roads safe for all Filipinos?” Pimentel said.
The senator strongly believes that careless drivers should be given stiffer penalties because they do not fear the punishments under the current law. For him, the certainty of imprisonment over penalties could serve as a deterrent against crime.
“It has been said that the negligent persons involved in these tragedies were not in fear of punishment as they are aware that even if convicted, they would still be eligible for probation and would not be imprisoned,” Pimentel said.
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