Police hunt killer driver

MANILA, Philippines–Police are hunting a driver who killed two elderly men and wounded five others when he rammed his jeepney into a store in Antipolo City on Tuesday night.

Jojo Silvano, driver of the jeepney plying the Quezon City-Antipolo route fled immediately after the accident, which happened at around 7:30 p.m. on the Marcos Highway in Barangay Mayamot, said Chief Inspector Zaldy Aquino, head of Antipolo police’s investigation unit.

The two fatalities were identified as Rodrigo Bartolome, 66, the owner of the sari-sari store, and his neighbor Virgilo Abejar, 70.

Aquino said the two were having some drinks outside the store when the jeepney crashed into the concrete wall of the store, pinning the two of them. Both men died while undergoing treatment at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikina City.

The five passengers of the jeepney who suffered injuries were recuperating at the hospital, Aquino said.

The driver left his jeepney and fled the scene.

“We are trying to locate him as charges were already filed against him,” Aquino said.

Silvano was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and injuries at the Antipolo prosecutor’s office.