INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Railways (PNR) defended on Monday that its train that fatally hit a man had the right-of-way during the incident.
The 21-year-old Jordan de Jesus was walking along the railway when he was hit by a PNR northbound train on its way to Tutuban in Sampaloc, Manila Monday morning.
But Paul de Quiros, PNR spokesperson, told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview that de Jesus illegally crossed the rail tracks.
“The PNR’s posture is that we had the right-of-way. It was an accident. He should have crossed in the crossing area,” de Quiros said.
Although there were “crossing-keepers” in the station, he said the security were not able to call out de Jesus since the area where he was walking prohibits passers-by to cross the railways.
”We advised the public before that, when crossing, they should assume every time that there is always an oncoming train,” he said.
“We enjoin the public to cross the (train) area with extreme caution.”
The PNR official also said they would not hastily conclude that they were not liable in the accident.
“We would still launch an immediate investigation on the incident and the train’s driver. It’s our standard operating procedure,” he said.
Witnesses said De Jesus did not notice the train behind him since he had to avoid another train moving northbound.
When the man was just about to cross the other lane, both northbound and southbound trains simultaneously came.
“He was supposed to cross to the northbound lane but the [other] train [had] run over him before he could pass by,” de Quiros said.
He was dragged at least 200 meters from where he was standing, causing his head to be severed from his body.
Though maintaining that it was not the management’s fault, de Quiros said they would still provide financial assistance “for humanitarian reasons.”
He said the family of de Jesus could apply for financial assistance but “on a limited capacity only.”
De Quiros said there was a disruption in the PNR operation but it only lasted for “less than 30 minutes.”
As of posting, train operations have resumed after the fatal incident took place at 8:25 a.m.
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