The Indian national tagged in the Good Friday procession tragedy that left three dead and 16 injured was released from the Bacolod Police Station 5 detention cell on Tuesday, April 22.
Jagpreet Singh, 37, was freed after posting a P60,000 bail, PCol. Joeresty Coronica, Bacolod police director, confirmed on Wednesday.
Singh is facing charges for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, multiple physical injuries, and damage to properties.
He was driving a Toyota Innova that hit a tricycle at the procession causing it to split in half with one part landing on the hood of a police patrol vehicle and other half hitting some of the people in the procession, the police said.
The three passengers on board the tricycle died.
The police said Singh tested positive for alcohol intake at the time of the accident.
Singh denied that he was under the influence of liquor and that he was driving fast.
REVOKE LICENSE
Land Transportation Office 6 Director Gaudioso Geduspan II said a show cause order has been issued against Singh.
“We issued a show‑cause order against the Indian national because he yielded a positive result in the alcohol test,” Geduspan said in a statement.
“This is a clear case of reckless driving. Given the fatalities and injuries, we are moving to revoke his license on the grounds that he is unfit to operate a motor vehicle”, he said
LTO personnel from the Negros Occidental Licensing Center have been dispatched to assist local authorities in gathering evidence and eyewitness accounts. The administrative case will determine whether the driver’s credentials should be permanently cancelled, he said.
SAFETY MEASURES
Meanwhile, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod on Wednesday passed a resolution urging concerned agencies to implement safety measures and preparedness protocols to prevent mass casualties or incidents.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang, urges the concerned agencies, including the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, to conduct a thorough assessment of potential risks and hazards in the city.
The city council shall monitor the implementation of these measures and provide oversight to ensure that the safety and well-being of the citizens are protected, the resolution added.*