Wife killed, Saguisag critical after car crash on Pasay road

(Update 9, 12:42 p.m.) Dulce Saguisag, wife of former Senator Rene Saguisag, died instantly in a vehicular accident on South Superhighway near Pasay Road at about 1:15 a.m. Thursday. The former senator is in critical condition at the Makati Medical Center. Radio dzBB reported that Saguisag, his wife, and two others were on board a white Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia van when it was hit by an Isuzu dump truck while crossing Osmeña Highway (formerly South Superhighway) from Arnaiz Avenue (formerly Pasay road). The four were reportedly on their way home after attending a ballroom dancing at Byke's Cafe in Makati City. Radio dzBB said Saguisag was with former President Joseph Estrada in a dinner meeting before he went ballroom dancing with his wife. Radio dzBB said the left side of the van (plate ZFV-674) was totally wrecked while its windshield was shattered. The impact of the smash up was on the left side, where Dulce was seated, behind the driver. The truck (GBF-417) dragged Saguisag's van by 20 to 30 meters before going to a full stop. The van was crushed, according to witnesses. The radio report quoted the truck driver, Manuel Geronimo, 42, as saying that the car carrying the Saguisag couple was running quite fast and that he had the green light. However, a taxi driver disputed this, saying that the Saguisag van and his cab, which was behind the Grandia, had the green light when the dump truck smashed into the Saguisag vehicle in the middle of the highway. "Bale naka-go na kami sir, eh. Eh 'yung trak na galing sa South Superhighway, tuloy-tuloy, walang preno, walang menor," Jeofrey Olmaguez, the cabdriver, said in a GMA News television interview. (The green light was on. But the truck that came from the South Superhighway went straight on, didn't put on the brakes, didn't even shift to a lower gear.) According to a police spot report, the dump truck was registered to one Melchor Gerona of Tumana village in Sta. Maria, Bulacan. The Makati police, who took custody of Geronimo for questioning, told dzBB radio that the driver now faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, serious physical injuries and damage to property. Dr Romeo Bongar told dzBB that the 68-year-old Saguisag "is in critical condition." The former senator, Dulce, and the other two victims were first brought to Ospital ng Makati in Malugay Street. Dulce Maramba Quintans-Saguisag, 64, was declared dead on arrival by Dr Raphael Tecson. Her body is now at the Arlington Funeral Homes in Quezon City. She was a cancer survivor. Critical condition Another dzBB report before 3 a.m., said Saguisag was moved to another branch of the Ospital ng Makati in Sampaguita St. in the same city for CT scan. He was later transferred to the Makati Medical Center (MMC). Computerized Tomography (CT) scanning uses a special kind of x-ray machine to inspect the inside of the body without having to operate or perform unpleasant examinations. It is also used to look at internal injuries such as a torn kidney, spleen or liver; or bony injury, particularly in the spine. The report said Saguisag, who was on a stretcher, was immediately brought to the hospital's emergency room. It added that Saguisag was in body brace, his head covered with bandage, and his face looked swollen. He was at the MMC intensive care unit as of 9:30 a.m. Tragic end Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, a close friend of the Saguisag couple, rushed to the hospital upon learning of the accident. The two others involved in the same accident were the Saguisag couple's driver Felipe Calvario Jr, 31, and Imelda "Rhea" Obong, a dance instructor. Calvario was in critical condition at the MMC as of Thursday noon. Dulce served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the presidency of former President Joseph Estrada. She had a masters degree on social work. She replaced now President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and quit her post when Estrada was going through impeachment proceedings in Congress. She was an executive officer of Mondragon Industries prior to her stint in government. Dulce was secretary general of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines prior to her death. Legal eagle The former senator is one of the defense lawyers and a spokesman of former President Estrada. He turned 68 years old last August 14. He was born on Aug. 14, 1939 in Mauban, Quezon. He finished his primary at Makati Elementary School in 1951, then his secondary course at Rizal High School in 1955. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 with honors and Bachelor of Laws degree in 1963 cum laude both at San Beda College. He acquired his master of laws degree full scholar at Harvard University in 1968. Saguisag worked as a checker, laborer, construction site guard and messenger from 1959 to 1962. From 1962 to 1972 he became an student researcher, then associate and eventually part time in Ledesma, Guytingco, Velasco and Saguisag. He became a member, law faculty (Assistant Dean 1971-1972) from 1961 to 1972. From 1972 to 1986, he practiced law and became a noted human rights lawyer. Saguisag served as spokesman of candidate and president-elect Cory Aquino from January 22, 1986. He was elected senator in 1987 up to 1992. He was chairman of Senate committee on ethics and privilege and ad hoc committee on the Bataan Nuclear power plant and he was one of the two senators who attended all 415 session days from July 1987 to June 1990. The Saguisag couple has five children, Rebo, Lara, Popoy, Mickey and gymnast Kaiza, a bronze medalist (women's artistics) in the last Southeast Asian Games. - with a report from Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV