Lady tabloid reporter killed as jeepney hits her motorcycle

MANILA, Philippines—A female tabloid reporter, who was four months pregnant, was killed when a speeding passenger jeepney hit the motorcycle she was riding in Binangonan town, Rizal, Monday night.

Maria Concepcion Dabban, a reporter of the weekly tabloid newspaper Hagupit and a resident of Pasig City, was declared dead on arrival at the Angono General Hospital after suffering a fatal injury in the head.

The incident happened just three weeks after another reporter, Edwin Perez, of People’s Balita, was stabbed dead in a robbery attempt in Antipolo, Rizal.

Police Officer 2 Carlito Oja Jr., investigator on case, said the victim on her motorcycle (OQ-9627) was traveling along National Road in Barangay (village) Pag-asa around 9 p.m. when a speeding jeepney (TXG-147) dragged her and her vehicle.

“She was four months pregnant according to her colleagues,” he said of the victim.

She had just submitted her stories to her publication’s office in Tanay, Rizal, and was heading home when the accident took place.

The driver, on the other hand, sped off and left the reporter behind.

One of the jeepney passengers went to the police to describe what happened. The Binangoan police had also traced the owner of the jeepney and later identified the driver as John Rey Laurenio, a resident of Taytay, Rizal.

“It appears that the driver has gone into hiding. We could no longer find him in his house,” Oja said.

The police are preparing to file reckless imprudence resulting in homicide at the Prosecutor’s Office.