As the rain poured, duty did not pause, and neither did danger.
Three people, including the acting police chief of La Castellana and a suspect from a buy-bust operation, were injured after a patrol car skidded and fell into a roadside canal in Purok 4, Barangay La Granja, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, early Saturday morning, July 26.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson Capt. Judesses Catalogo said the incident happened around 2:40 a.m. as the officers were returning to La Castellana after bringing the suspect to the NOCPPO Provincial Forensic Unit in Bacolod City for a drug test.
The injured include La Castellana Acting Police Chief Capt. Melgarejo, a non-commissioned police officer, and the arrested man, who was the subject of the earlier buy-bust operation.
La Granja, located along the border of La Carlota and La Castellana, has experienced continuous heavy downpour in recent days due to Tropical Storm Crising, which is believed to have contributed to the accident.
Catalogo said the police vehicle skidded on the slippery road before it plunged into a canal.
He said as part of police protocol all drug suspects must be subjected to immediate drug testing following their arrest.
The non-commissioned officer and the suspect both sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Don Salvador Benedicto District Hospital in La Carlota City.
Melgarejo, however, suffered head injuries and five fractured ribs and is currently confined in a private hospital in Bacolod City.
Catalogo said the police chief is now in stable condition, pending further medical evaluation.*