This is why people should be careful when driving.
Facebook user Efryl Geronimo shared in a post today how she had witnessed a jeepney driver wreck an old ice cream vendor’s cart in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Geronimo initially shared it in the Santa Maria, Bulacan (Netizen) Facebook group with over 4,800 likes and almost 5,000 shares, which was subsequently reshared by Facebook user Kamote Rider (Sweet Potato Rider) to the public, garnering over 43k likes and 42,000 shares from outraged netizens.
“To whoever is the driver or operator of the PUJ [public utility jeepney] CVE #….., please give [sic] the decency to take responsibility of (sic) what you did to Lolo (grandfather),” she wrote. According to Geronimo, the alleged incident happened at 8:30 am.
She stated that the old man, who was later on identified in the post as Picanor Alinsod Jr., was a “mere ice cream vendor” which she assumes as his only means of making a living for his family.
“You didn’t even look once behind you or even bothered [to check] if you just hit something after you cut [in front] and ran away from [the] grandfather,” she wrote in a mix of English and Filipino.
It isn’t clear whether it was Alinsod or the cart, but Geronimo stated that something had fallen into the canal near the Mendoza General Hospital in Sta. Maria where the event took place. She added that the cart was badly damaged and the incident left Alinor wounded.
Geronimo also shared that there were bystanders, motorists, and guards who witnessed the incident and tried to catch the jeepney driver who sped away from the alleged scene of the crime.
According to her own investigation on the incident, Geronimo alleges that the jeepney route was either in Sampol or Norzagaray in Bulacan.
“Sir, the ice cream cart was big enough to be seen in you (sic) side mirror or rear view [mirror] and you just ran off (sic) away,” she directed at the driver. She added that the incident has been reported to the road and traffic authorities in the area to alert others as well.
The ice cream vendor was taken to the nearby hospital afterward to be taken care of the wounds he sustained.
“Whoever you are, this world believes in karma,” she ended. “It is not too late to show compassion and be responsible for your actions.”
She later on edited the Facebook post stating that she had an erratum regarding the license plate she initially posted: “I will update this if the plate number from the footage will be decode (sic). Sorry for the wrong number everything happened so fast.”
Coconuts Manila reached out to Geronimo for further information, but she has yet to respond.
Netizens couldn’t help but get heartbroken over the ordeal.
Facebook user Reysie Pobs-Aranas wrote in Filipino the sentiment of most commenters: “Poor grandpa.”
“Crazy driver, you didn’t even feel sorry for the old guy, you didn’t help him and you even ran from him,” wrote Rosalyn Clemente.
Jane Botial Fabular, another Facebook user, said: “Poor grandpa. He’s old enough as it is to work as a vendor, and then he was still not helped by the driver. No conscience.”
Others have expressed their desire of helping Alinsod.
Facebook user Karl Cielo wrote on Geronimo’s post: “Where does father live, the exact [location] so we can go to his house [to help].”
A Twitter user by the handle @krizzy_kalerqui reshared the post on the platform and another user @myklaurente wrote back: “Madam, is there any way for the grandfather to receive my help?”
https://twitter.com/myklaurente/status/1014756526504882177
Keep doin’ your job, social media. Let’s help grandpa Alinsod get back up his feet.
