Drunk Driver Kills Policeman at Checkpoint in Cavite

A policeman was killed and another was injured after a drunk driver ran over them at a checkpoint in Silang, Cavite, early Sunday morning.

The victim was identified as Patrolman John Carl Austria Delyola, a member of the 401st A Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Batallion 4A.

He was manning a checkpoint on Aguinaldo Highway, Barangay Tubuan 2, when a speeding SUV (Isuzu 2012 DMAX TOF 638) hit him and dragged him for several meters.

The SUV also hit another policeman, Corporal Adriene Atienza, who sustained minor injuries.

He was able to alert his fellow officers and chase the fleeing vehicle.

The two policemen were rushed to the hospital, but Delyola succumbed to his injuries after almost three hours of fighting for his life.

The driver of the SUV, a 22-year-old college student who goes by the alias “Arvee”, was arrested and tested positive for alcohol.

The suspect is now facing multiple charges, including reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries, damage to property, and violation of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act. He refused to comment on the incident.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Louie Gonzaga, the chief of Silang Municipal Police Station, this was not the first time that the suspect was involved in a drunk driving incident.

He said that the suspect had a similar case in 2021, but he was able to settle with his victim and avoid jail time.

Gonzaga said that this time, the suspect might face 10 to 20 years of imprisonment, as well as pay damages to the victim’s family.

He said that the victim’s father, Ariel Delyola, was determined to pursue the case and seek justice for his son’s death.

GMA News spoke to Ariel Delyola, who expressed his grief and anger over the loss of his eldest son, who was the breadwinner of their family.

He said that his son was a dedicated and brave policeman who sacrificed his life for his duty. He said that he wanted to see the suspect behind bars and pay for his crime.

The incident was captured by a CCTV camera, which showed the SUV speeding past the checkpoint and hitting the policemen. The footage also showed the SUV stopping briefly before fleeing the scene.