CEBU CITY – An extensive investigation has been launched to identify the driver of the vehicle in a fatal hit-and-run incident here on Sunday morning, January 4.

LARUMBE

The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is reviewing the routes that victim Jesler Uriel Larumbe took before he was hit by a vehicle on Queens Road in Barangay Kamputhaw.

There were reports that Larumbe was hit by a vehicle that was part of a “VIP” convoy.

Mayor Michael Rama here lashed back at reports that he was aboard in one of the vehicles in the convoy and threatened to file legal charges.

During the traditional flag ceremony at the City Hall grounds on Monday, January 5, an irate Rama said he could not be in the convoy as he was in Bohol last Sunday. He instructed the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and identify the driver of the vehicle that hit Larumbe.

Police Lt. Col. Janette Rafter, deputy city director for operations of CCPO, said investigators are already reviewing several closed-circuit camera television (CCTV) footages to determine the license plate of the vehicle that hit the victim.

“We are conducting backtracking. We are asking for patience from the public because we are not going to investigate this haphazardly. We want to get all the information so that all questions will be answered,” said Rafter.

Rafter assured the victim’s family that the driver who left the victim sprawled on the ground will be unmasked.

Larumbe was driving a motorcycle during the incident.

"Although we cannot say as soon as possible, we are assuring the family and the public that we will solve this. We will make sure that the person behind this will be made answerable,” Rafter said.

Contrary to initial reports, Rafter said the vehicle that hit the victim was not part of a convoy.

The Highway Patrol Group-Central Visayas (HPG-7) has stepped in to help in the investigation.

Police Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla, HPG-7 chief, said they are coordinating with the Abellana Police Station to verify the information that they initially gathered.

The Land Transportation Office-Central Visayas (LTO-7) is also looking into the incident.

“The LTO 7 will work closely with the authorities to identify the driver/owner of the vehicle that may have cost the life of a motorcycle driver. As of this time, we cannot give any information yet since we don’t have a clearer copy of a CCTV where we can identify the plate number of the said vehicle,” said LTO-7 chief Glen Galario.

The LTO-7 has been flagging down unmarked vehicles using unauthorized blinkers and/or sirens, Galario added.

There were reports that the vehicle that hit the victim had blinkers.