KIKO BATS FOR MORE STRINGENT PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS
DRIVING IN THE WAKE OF SAGUISAG ACCIDENT

Following the vehicular accident that injured former Senator Rene Saguisag and claimed the life of his wife, former DSWD Secretary Dulce Saguisag, Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today called on Congress to impose more stringent penalties for reckless driving saying "the upsurge of this crime threatens public order and safety."

"Everyday in Metro Manila alone, an average of 25 vehicular accidents takes place, most of them due to reckless driving. This constitutes reckless imprudence which, under the Revised Penal Code, must be meted with the most stringent penalties. Yet, to cite the landmark case of Abueg vs. the Court of Appeals and Joselito Oraña, the convict was only sentenced to 4 years and 2 months in prison and P50,000 in moral damages, P50,000 in exemplary damages and P37, 7000 in actual damages," Kiko said.

"These penalties are too muted considering the loss of lives and it pales in comparison to other countries' punishments for similar cases," Kiko observed.

In Australia for example, the first offense causing death or grievous injury by reckless driving is punishable by imprisonment for a maximum of ten years and license disqualification for 5 years.

In Virginia, USA a reckless driving conviction can result in either a misdemeanor or felony conviction. "If felony conviction were to occur then in addition to any prison confinement, the person will likewise lose a significant number of his constitutional rights such as eligibility for certain professions, security clearances, among others," Kiko said.

"If we are to deter reckless driving, then we need to impose harsher penalties to erring drivers. So many lives are being claimed senselessly because it seems that anyone who knows how to start an engine is eligible to drive in this country"