Patrol car ng Batad sa Iloilo, nahulog sa kangkungan; dalang drug suspect, namatay sa aksidente

- A drug suspect died after the patrol car he was riding in met an accident along the highway in Barotac-Viejo in Iloilo province

- Three cops, who were all assigned at the Batad Municipal Police Station, and were with the suspect when their patrol car met an accident, sustained varying degrees of injuries

- According to initial investigation, the police officers, along with the suspect, were on board the Batad MPO police car and were on their way back to the municipality after subjecting the suspect to a drug test

- Partial results of the police investigation further state that the police car’s driver momentarily had an impaired visibility after water splashed on the vehicle’s windshield, causing the driver to lose control

A tragic incident unfolded in Iloilo province early Wednesday morning, April 30, 2025, when a police vehicle carrying three officers and a drug suspect met with an accident, resulting in the suspect's death and injuries to all three law enforcement personnel.

The mishap occurred in Sitio Ambulong, Barangay Natividad, Barotac Viejo town, at approximately 1:20 a.m.

The patrol car, belonging to the Batad Municipal Police Station, was en route back to Batad after officers had escorted a 44-year-old male drug suspect, identified as John Baldomero from Barangay Alinsulong, Batad, to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory at Camp Delgado in Iloilo City for a drug test.

Baldomero had been apprehended the previous evening, April 29, during a buy-bust operation. He was handcuffed and seated in the back of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

According to Police Major Ciriaco Esquilarga, the chief of the Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station, initial investigations suggest that as the patrol car traversed Barangay Natividad, water splashed onto the windshield, severely impairing the visibility of the driver, Police Master Sergeant Renante Fuentes.

This sudden obstruction caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The patrol car then veered off the road, hitting a roadside gutter and a telecommunications post before plunging into a deep, swampy area described locally as a “kangkungan,” referring to a field of water spinach.

The impact of the crash caused significant damage to the side and rear portions of the police vehicle. All four occupants – the three police officers and the handcuffed suspect – were rushed to the Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barotac Viejo.

Tragically, John Baldomero was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. Due to his restraints, he was unable to move and reportedly sustained a critical head injury.

The three injured police officers were identified as Police Master Sergeant Renante Fuentes (the driver), Police Master Sergeant Francis John Aricaya, and Police Corporal Joseph Asturias.

While two of the officers were receiving treatment at a hospital in Barotac Viejo, the third was later transferred to a hospital in Iloilo City for further medical attention

The extent of their injuries has not been fully disclosed, but they are reported to be in stable condition.

Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain the precise cause of the accident.

This includes examining the road conditions at the time of the incident, the possibility of mechanical failure of the vehicle, and adherence to standard operating procedures for transporting arrested individuals.

The investigation aims to provide a clearer picture of the circumstances leading to this unfortunate event that resulted in the loss of life and injuries to law enforcement personnel.

News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

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Source: KAMI.com.gh