THIS is in connection with last night’s online report (Breaking News/Metro) by Julie M. Aurelio, which identified Patricia Olbes as the driver of an SUV that hit an unidentified pedestrian along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue in the evening of November 30, and that police are mulling the possible filing of a charge of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
The report is inaccurate and misleading. Ms Olbes was driving her vehicle along EDSA, on its innermost south-bound lane, when she felt a loud thud on the side of the front passenger seat. She immediately stopped. While still inside her vehicle, she was approached by a bystander who told her that she was not at fault and it was an Elf vehicle which was at fault.
Ms Olbes, still unaware of what had actually transpired, got off her vehicle and saw a body sprawled on the second innermost lane behind her vehicle. At that moment, there were already 3 men who had also stopped their vehicle and were attempting to assist the victim. She then called Rescue 117 to report the incident and seek assistance. An ambulance and a mobile police patrol arrived, and the victim was immediately brought
to a hospital.
Witnesses attested to the fact that it was not the vehicle of Ms Olbes which hit the victim; instead, the victim was run over by a speeding van traveling along the second innermost lane.
No fault can be attributed to Ms Olbes. She was not speeding. All she did was help the victim: she stopped her vehicle; she called for assistance and reported the incident; she volunteered and issued her written statement to the police. She gave her full cooperation.
PO3 Perlito Datu confirmed that the incident is still under investigation. According to him, he has not spoken to any media representative concerning the case, and no charge has been filed against Ms Olbes.
Alberto L. Sales (counsel for Patricia Olbes) via e-mail
6 Feedbacks on "Wrong driver"
Roy
hmm… looks like an opportunity for hulidap…
hill roberts
This is another classic example of some people threatening an architect in Subic area. Mr Felino Palafox only wants to save some century-old trees and he gets death threats from some goon/thug/hitman to prevent him from exposing those people who would like to build a hotel-casino. Hey, guys, this man is trying to do something good, nothing more. For him to be threatened just because he tries to be upright and straight in his dealings with people, whether from government or otherwise should be condemned, especially those coming from Subic area itself. Subic has earned a reputation for its hard-working, disciplined people. Please do not allow something like this to happen to Mr F Palafox. Stand up and be counted. Support this man whose only aim in life is to be honest in his dealings. I do not know him from Adam however, when this sort of thing keeps happening to those whose only wish is to help the country behave in a proper way, then it’s time to call in the authorities who should know better and uphold the rules, laws of the land. That beautiful country has been getting an awful lot of flack because of the unsavoury characters that pop up every now and then to smear the country and its people. Let’s be civilised and uphold the law, not the use of gun. Show your support, Subic folks, You’ve nothing to lose. Keep your reputation clean. Do not allow a handful of goons to besmirch that prosperous area.
Arsenio H. Carlos
“LRT will shorten operations for holidays.”
Officials — public or private — are widely known for their stupidity, but this one takes the cake. In Hong Kong, where I work, operations of the Mass Transit Railway are extended to 24 hours during holidays simply because that’s when people are either going out or commuting late to reach their homes. I really can’t understand why LRT management has to schedule maintenance work on those dates.
There’s “a drop in ridership during holidays.” That may be true, but that doesn’t mean train service is not needed in those days. Operators of public transport have an obligation to provide service even on days when their service is less needed — regardless of whether they make a profit or not.
And here’s another word of wisdom from LRTA administrator Melquiades Robles: “We all know that many of our countrymen celebrate Christmas and New Year with fireworks which might affect our operations or injure some passengers on their way to or from the stations.”
That’s nonsense. It’s like saying you’re not allowed to get out of your home on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve because it’s dangerous. It’s their own lookout if they want to get out of their homes during those “dangerous” hours. And it’s LRTA’s obligation to provide safety to its trains and passengers.
People commute during holidays because they have reasons to commute, and it’s not for LRTA to decide when they should commute.
Of course, we all know the reason why LRTA decided to shorten operations on Dec 24 and Dec 31. They don’t want to work because they have their own noche buenas and media noches to attend to. Well, the remedy for that is simple: look for another job where you can do so.
Public transport is public service that must be available at all times. Can you imagine hospitals and police stations shortening their schedule of work during holidays?
Asinine decisions such as the one announced by Mr Robles taint our image as a country and a people. They make us look goofy.
It would be better for Mr Robles to quit his job than inflict his stupidity on the public.
Arsenio H. Carlos
DOM
Yes, the driver is wrong, she didnt hit an elf, she hit a person on a road.
DOM
hill roberts,
Any idea who may instigate the threats to Architect Palafox? Just give us hints and we’ll see about that also.
hill roberts
Dom, re Architect Palafox> No idea…I have only read what is reported in the papers. But my point is, why do people threaten other people with violence? We are in the 21st century, this shouldn’t be happening to our country. We cannot as a country keep doing what some have been doing in the seventies, or eighties, etc. I commented on it because this threat to life should not happen in today’s age. Isn’t it plain cowardice to threaten people?
Please Leave a Comment!