Town mayor’s son still faces charges

A MAYOR’S son who figured in a 10-car smashup in Cebu City was released from custody after reaching an amicable settlement with owners of the vehicles he rammed.

But Mark Gregory Blanco, 24, son of Ronda town mayor Mariano Blanco, is not off the hook yet.

The City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) Board yesterday passed a resolution to charge Blanco with Driving Under the Influence(DUI) and damage to public property.

“We heard that they are willing to settle with the owners of the eight cars and other damages. But this one is not a good precedent. It doesn’t mean that just because you can afford to pay the damage, you can drive drunk and ram anyone’s car and properties and get away with it,” said Jack Jakosalem, chairman of Citom.

Under Republic Act 4136, also known as An Act to Compile the Laws Relative to the Land Transporation and Traffic Rules, Blanco’s license could be suspended for three months if he’s found guilty of reckless driving, said Jakosalem.

The maximum penalty for DUI is a fine of P200 to P300 or imprisonment of six months or both.

“But with the extent of damage he incurred, we’re asking the judge to extend the suspension up to six months, ” Jakosalem said.

Mark, who was with three other men, was driving an Isuzu Trooper Tuesday dawn when he slammed through eight vehicles parked along M.J Cuenco Access Road to Gen. Maxilom Avenue.

The Isuzu Trooper then collided head-on with a Hyundai Starex van at the intersection of A. Soriano and Gen. Maxilom.

A traffic light was also damaged during the incident.

Mark was fined P5,000 for drunk driving, said Wengweng Tagaan of Citom’s records section.

Mark tested positive for alcohol use after he was apprehended.

The owners of the eight vehicles decided not to file charges after Mark agreed to pay for the damage, said Chief Insp. Aureo Sanchez, chief of the Cebu City traffic police./CORRESPONDENTS EDISON A. DE LOS ANGELES AND CHITO O. ARAGON