2 die as military truck rams Davao shoppers; AFP probe starts
Crenenandy Cadiente, 44, (seated on the driver’s seat of KM450), is arrested on Sunday after two persons were killed when he took over wheel of an unattended military truck of Task Force Davao, which mowed though marketgoers early morning of Dec. 24. DAVAO CITY POLICE OFFICE PHOTO.
DAVAO CITY — The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has ordered a probe into the ramming incident involving a military truck taken over by a civilian that killed two people and wounded three others in Bankerohan public market of this city early morning on Christmas Eve.
Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, directed the Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon which has jurisdiction over the TF Davao, to look into whether there was negligence on the part of their personnel after a civilian was able to take hold and drive the military truck.
The fatalities—Jamie Lopez Cole, 63; and Rocel Luna Haspe, 34—were at the market early to do some last-minute shopping for the Christmas “noche buena” (midnight feast) when they were hit by the rampaging KM450 military truck, which had earlier carried troops to secure the area. A video taken shortly before the incident showed Haspe, wearing a pink jacket and standing near the roadside, waiting for a ride along with other market goers when the military truck came toward their direction, which managed to drag her as she and several others scampered away.
According to the Davao City police, the military truck, with its engine still running, was temporarily parked along A. Pichon Street as its driver, Pfc. Patrick Saguin Trumata, went out “for personal necessities.”
But while Trumata was out, a certain Crenenandy Cadiente, 44, climbed aboard, and moved the truck forward, resulting in a tragedy that killed Cole and Haspe and hurt three others at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 24.
Article continues after this advertisementWounded were city residents Teresita Pilapil Tangaro, 45, of Piapi Boulevard here; Michael Baldoman Maghuyop, 44, of Barangay Mandug; and Mae Antoneth Anticamara, 20, of Purok 11 Sto. Niño, Barangay 76-A Bucana. They were brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center for treatment.
Article continues after this advertisementCadiente was now in the custody of TF Davao but Almerol said the evaluation of his mental health had yet to be released.
Full responsibility
Almerol assured the public and the victims’ families that the investigation would be speedy and that they would file the necessary charges if the military personnel involved were proven to be negligent of his duty.
“It is unfortunate that it happened while we are preparing for a festive celebration of Christmas,” said Almerol on Monday, as he extended his condolences to the families.
“Be assured that we will not rest until you get the justice deserved by your loved ones,” he added.
TF Davao, in a statement on Sunday, has taken full responsibility for the incident. It was coordinating with the city government of Davao to assist the victims and their families with their needs.
Col. Ronaldo Valdez, deputy commander of the TF Davao, personally met with the victims’ families on Sunday.
He told the Inquirer they noticed the buildup of the crowd in Bankerohan public market early morning on Sunday, as people made the last-minute shopping for the Christmas noche buena, and decided to deploy more troops along the vicinity.
“It was already out of our duty, but as good soldiers and seeing the crowd, we decided to deploy our troops to secure the area,” he said.
He added that the truck had carried the soldiers to the place but they were still investigating how Cadiente, a civilian, had managed to take control of the vehicle.
