Man hit by car owned by QC vice mayor’s aide dies

MANILA, Philippines—Comatose for nine days after being hit by a car owned by an aide to Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, a 52-year-old government employee died early this week from his injuries, police said Friday.

Charges are being readied against Joseph Teddy Garcia, 41, who allegedly drove the Toyota Revo that hit the victim, Archangel Albiento, on March 11 while he was crossing a street in Barangay (village) Pag-Ibig sa Nayon at around 9:20 p.m..

Albiento, who sustained head injuries, died last Wednesday.

SPO3 Crisaldo Nemenzo, follow-up section chief of the Quezon City Police District’s Traffic Enforcement Unit, said Garcia turned out to be the friend of the registered owner of the Revo, Rowena Macatao, Belmonte’s chief of staff.

Police learned of Garcia’s identity only when the driver went to the QCPD with Macatao’s lawyers, to meet with the Albiento family.

The parties had not yet reached any agreement on a settlement as of Friday. Albiento’s daughter said her family was determined to press charges.

Nemenzo said Garcia faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, and violation of Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code for the abandonment of a person in danger.

Nemenzo said Macatao did not say who drove her vehicle that night until Garcia showed up.

Three men helped Albiento board a tricycle and took him to the President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center, after which the victim was transferred to the Far Eastern University Hospital.

Albiento’s daughter, Adjie, 22, told reporters Friday that they will press charges against Garcia, who opted to remain silent.

The victim’s daughter said three-fourths of the P423,000 in hospital bills have been paid for by Macatao.

Macatao’s lawyer Philip Sawali told reporters that they are willing to help shoulder the expenses.

The lawyer said Macatao never drove the Revo as she did not have a driver’s license and did not know how to drive, but allows her friends to use her vehicle.