Speedster who killed Bulacan teen, woman was a cop

PLARIDEL, Bulacan— The man behind the wheel of a speeding car which killed a teenager and a woman on Jan. 22 was a police officer.

Teotimo Romero, father of 17-year-old Kevin Romero who was thrown toward the roof of a truck when he was struck by the car on Friday night, said they intend to pursue murder charges against PO3 Alfredo Payumo, the driver.

Senior Supt. Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan police director, said Payumo is assigned to the health service unit of the Philippine National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame.

Payumo was motoring toward the City of Malolos on Friday night when his vehicle suddenly veered away from his lane, hitting a store and killing 27-year-old Judy Ann Santos who was standing there at 10:30 p.m. The car then struck a parked truck before hitting Kevin.

READ: Speeding car kills teen, woman in Bulacan town

At the wake of Santos, her 60-year-old mother, Arsenia Orsais, said her older daughter Joanna is flying back home from her work in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to pursue their complaint against Payumo.

Romero, a 45-year-old bus driver, and Orsais said they received cash from Payumo, which they used for funeral expenses.

“I received P35,000 for burial expenses, but it does not stop me from suing him to get justice for my daughter,” Orsais said. CDG