A POLICEMAN was killed when his motorcycle collided with a passenger bus in Naga City, Cebu province on Sunday, Feb. 1. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – The Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) is mourning the death of a retiring police officer killed in a collision between a motorcycle and a bus in Naga City, southern Cebu province on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Police Executive Master Sgt. Antonio Sando, who was supposed to retire this year, was driving a police-issued motorcycle on his way home to San Fernando town, Cebu when the accident occurred around 7:45 a.m.
Police said the policeman’s motorcycle collided with a passenger bus which encroached the opposite lane when the driver attempted to avoid a vehicle in front.
An owner of one of the vehicles involved in the accident uploaded a video footage of the accident. The footage was from a front dash cam of a Honda City sedan.
In the video, a Toyota Vios suddenly stopped due to a water gallon that fell on the road. The Honda City sedan also stopped but was rear-ended by a Toyota Innova.
A Ceres bus, with license plates GXV-290 and driven by Junrel Villamor Cavalida, a 43-year-old resident of Bato, Samboan, Cebu, tried to avoid hitting the Innova and swerved to the left.
The bus encroached the opposite lane and collided with the motorcycle driven by the policeman.
He was pinned under the bus, extricated, and taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
The bus driver was taken to the Naga City Police Station.
The PRO-7 said that Sando was assigned to the Traffic Patrol Group of the Office of the Regional Director.
“We mourn the loss of Police Executive Master Sergeant Antonio Sando, a committed police officer whose years of dedicated service were cut short by this tragic incident. His passing is a profound loss to the Philippine National Police and to the community he served with honor,” said PRO-7 chief Police Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.
The PRO-7 assured that necessary assistance will be given to the family of the policeman.
“The entire PRO-7 family extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of PEMS Antonio Sando. His service, sacrifice, and legacy will always be remembered,” the PRO-7 said.