Radio man killed in motorcycle accident in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – A radio broadcaster and his father-in-law were killed Saturday after their motorcycle collided with a multi-cab owned by the Palo Archdiocese in Palo town, Leyte.

Roy Tolibas, 42 and his father-in-law Artemio Cornitas were heading home to Barangay Panda, Jaro town in Leyte past 8 p.m. when they figured in a vehicular accident in Barangay Arado, about two kilometers from the city proper.

The police detained Reyson Jardin, driver of the multicab owned by the Palo Archdiocese, pending filing of charges. Jardin is assigned to Msgr. Bernardo Pantin of Palo Archdiocese.

Tolibas was anchor of daily morning commentary program, “Ronda Puersa” over radio station dyBR, which is owned by the family of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. He was also anchor/reporter of Bombo Radyo from 1998 to 2003.

Tolibas was also serving his first term as the barangay chairman of Panda, Jaro where he was supposed to lead a “pintakasi” on Sunday morning.

Police said Tolibas, who was driving his motorcycle, picked up his father-in-law from Cornitas’ house on T. Claudio Street in Tacloban. They were heading to Tolibas’ house in Jaro when their motorcycle collided with a multi-cab in Barangay Arado.

Tolibas and Cornitas, who both suffered severe head injuries, were brought to the Divine Word Hospital in Tacloban but physicians declared them dead on arrival.

Jardin said he was on his way to the Palo Cathedral from La Verna, a retreat house for nuns, when he saw the motorcycle heading towards him.

“He was driving fast. I stepped on the brakes to stop the multi-cab but he still hit my vehicle,” Jardin said.