Court dismisses case filed re ambulance rescue
THE Municipal Trial Court in Rosales town dismissed the information filed by the police against four persons who were on board an Emergency Rescue Ambulance of Sta. Barbara, two of whom were being transported to Sta. Barbara town for humanitarian and emergency reasons.
Dismissed by Municipal Trial Court Judge Alta Grace N. Briones was the complaint filed against Mark Arky Idos, driver of the ambulance; Dennis Paragas, both of Sta. Barbara town, and Elicia Von Giese and Drayson Paragas, both from Quezon City.
P/Capt. Marlo Gamboa and Patrolman Rosete Querubin, both of the Rosales Police Station, alleged that on or about 2:00 p.m. on April 23, in Barangay San Bartolome, Rosales, the accused willfully, unlawfully… resisted and disobeyed them by transporting passengers inside the Emergency Rescue Ambulance without documents authorizing the transfer to show at the checkpoint.
The accused argued that Elicia Von Giese had multiple medical issues due to hydrocephalus, and was hypertensive and diabetic. Since her doctor in Quezon City, could not attend to her, Daryson decided to consult her doctor at Cuison Clinic in Dagupan City; that on April 21, Daryson secured travel passes from their Punong Barangay in Quezon City but their vehicle was denied entry at the Quarantine checkpoint in Rosales.
Daryson sought help from his brother Dennis in Sta. Barbara who in turn requested help from the Municipal Health Unit of the town.
Dr. Fe Reyes, municipal health officer of Sta. Barbara, tasked Idos to drive the ambulance with Dennis Paragas to fetch Daryson and Elicia at the checkpoint in in Rosales.
Shortly after they were flagged down, a doctor from Rosales checked the medical condition of Elicia and told the police that she could not be held as she needed medical attention. But she was still brought to the police station.
In dismissing the case, the court said while there was nothing in the sworn statement of the two police officers that say they gave lawful orders to the accused, Judge Briones said, “All told, there is simply no ground to hold the accused for trial for the crime charged.”
The court also ordered that the bail bond posted for the provisional liberty of the accused in the total amount of P12,000 cancelled and released to accused-bondsperson Elicia Von Giese or to her duly authorized representative. (Leonardo Micua)
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