4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos has renewed his call for a bill to institutionalize fair accountability in road safety incidents. This follows a tragic event on February 11 that led to the death of a 23-year-old student in Manila. The driver who struck the victim was released after authorities found no negligence.
In Manila, Philippines, a 23-year-old male student died on February 11 after falling from an LRT platform along EDSA and being struck by a passing vehicle. The driver was initially placed under police custody but released on February 14 after the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing no fault on the driver's part.
This incident prompted 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos to renew his push for House Bill (HB) 110, known as the “Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act.” The measure aims to promote responsible driving and ensure that drivers are not automatically held liable for road safety incidents without negligence or traffic violations.
“This measure is about justice for all parties involved,” Abalos said in a statement. “While we mourn the loss of a young life, we must also protect innocent citizens from the trauma and legal burden of being held responsible for incidents that were entirely unavoidable on their part,” he added.
Key provisions include clearer definitions related to driving and road incidents, aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and a reiteration of liabilities for parties involved.
Meanwhile, Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano, chairman of the House committee on public order and safety, stated that arresting drivers without probable cause for reckless imprudence is unjust. “There are three ways to address the continuing injustice against motorists who should not be arrested and detained for reckless imprudence. First, I call for the immediate revision of the police procedures on reckless imprudence arrests and detention. Second, I ask the Supreme Court to revise its Rules of Criminal Procedure. Third, I also support the pending bills on responsible driving and the enactment of a new law to replace the Revised Penal Code,” Valeriano said.
He highlighted the wrongful application of Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code, the basis for reckless imprudence. “It is clear to me that the police do not bother to weigh the evidence and circumstances... It does not take a prosecutor to see that there is no probable cause when the driver does not directly cause a road mishap,” he added.
