Reckless driver endangered lives of Aquino, entourage–report

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang released on Monday an official report on the reckless driver who allegedly raced President Aquino’s convoy with his sports car along the Skyway last Wednesday.

The three-page report said the actions of a certain Jeffrey Roxas Chua at around 1:45 p.m. last April 16 “endangered the life of the President and [that] of his official family.’’

Attached to the report filed by SPO3 Manuel Mandapat, team leader on duty of the President’s motorcycle escorts, were pictures of Roxas Chua, a resident of Urdaneta Village in Makati, and his car, a red Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (UWI-797).

While being issued a ticket for reckless driving and speeding, Roxas Chua allegedly told Mandapat and a traffic enforcer: “Kay Presidente pala kayo ha. Ganyan pala. Humanda kayo pag nanalo si Binay at Erap. Ipatatanggal kita. (So, you’re with the President. You better be ready when Binay and Erap win in the next elections.  I will have you removed.)” Roxas Chua name-dropped Vice President Jejomar Binay and former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

The driver also “got mad and demanded to know” Mandapat’s name, and took a video of the officers while they were preparing the violation ticket, according to the report.

The President was on his way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for inspection when Roxas Chua “tried to recklessly overtake” a vehicle of the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO).

The PCOO driver was forced to “slow down and give way,” but Roxas Chua’s car “continued to swerve in and out of the presidential convoy at the right curve approach of the NAIA toll gate,” Mandapat reported.

Mandapat said he chased the sports car, which allegedly tried to overtake the “whole presidential convoy”—with speed of up to 180 kph—heading toward the Bicutan exit of the South Luzon Expressway, where he was finally cornered.