Cop killed in Mandaue road mishap

A 42-year-old traffic policeman of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) died after he was run over by a a vehicle in in barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

Police said no one saw the vehicle that hit SPO1 Edison Gumpay about 6 p.m. last Tuesday.

Gumpay was a native of Surigao del Sur but temporarily lived in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City. He was part of the 66 policemen taking up a Police Safety Junior Leadership Course.

Gumpay was brought to the Mandaue City Hospital but was declared dead by the attending doctor.

Although no one saw the accident, police held in custody Bernalito Panginahug, 33, driver of Cebu City-owned Kaoshiung bus with plate number SCN-772.

Gumpay was found slumped on the ground at the back of the bus.

Panginahug said he was driving along M.C. Briones Highway when suddenly he heard a loud sound coming from the rear portion of the bus.

Panginahug said he checked on the side mirror and saw a motorcycle crash. The driver said he stopped and went to the back of the bus and found the policeman slumped on the ground. The policeman’s broken helmet was found a few feet away.

Panginahug denied that it was the bus he was driving that hit Gumpay’s motorcycle.

“The bus should have bounced if it was I who ran over him. I even thought he was the one who rammed the bus, said Panginahug in Cebuano.

Panginahug was transporting school children from Mabolo Elementary School. The bus was supposed to bring the children to barangay Budlaan. The children were part of the families who were relocated from Mahiga creek to Budlaan./CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA