reckless imprudence

about two years ago, a husband and a father, was on his way home to his family, riding his motorcycle when his life was cut short by a reckless driver. there were allegations of drag racing and the victim was caught in the middle of that race. did i mention that the race was conducted in one of the busy thoroughfares of the city? were the drivers prosecuted? i believe that there was a settlement on the civil aspect but i do not know what happened to the criminal aspect.

about two weeks ago, a relative of my high school classmate was killed in a vehicular accident in manila. he was just going to the airport to pick up a friend/relative when his car was hit by a reckless driver. the victim was trapped in his burning car. the bus driver who struck the victim's car allegedly had a vehicular accident in april 2008, just six months ago yet he continues to drive recklessly and with impudence.

yesterday, a biker along the four-way murcia bacolod road was on his proper lane, wearing the proper gear, and basically just enjoying his right to be on the road when he was struck and killed by another reckless driver. witnesses claimed that the killer driver attempted to overtake on the left lane but failed, he then attempted to pass on the right lane which is NOT ALLOWED and is a BLATANT TRAFFIC VIOLATION, it was on the right lane that he hit the biker who was on HIS PROPER LANE which resulted to his death. the biker's name was BENJAMIN MORAÑA. i mention his name here because i do not want his death to pass unnoticed and that he will be relegated to one of the statistics.

Ben Moraña does not know me nor do I know him. but his death struck a chord because my husband is also a biker and oftentimes, pass along the same route. Ben Moraña's death was SENSELESS and AVOIDABLE. the KILLER driver HAS NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. The killer driver has a wrong sense of entitlement, his action shows that he believes that reaching his destination faster is more important than observing traffic laws. DID I MENTION THAT HE IS IN HIS 70s? And where is he now? conveniently, he had himself admitted to the hospital claiming illness. like joc joc bolante.

what is the penalty for this killer drivers? believe it or not - A MERE SLAP ON THE WRIST. the revised penal code of the philippines states that: Any person who, by reckless imprudence, shall commit any act which, had it been intentional, would constitute a grave felony, shall suffer the penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its medium period; and what does these periods translate to? - AT THE MOST- FOUR YEARS AND ONE DAY

thus, i say, that given the gravity of the offense, the corresponding penalty is a mere slap on the wrist. isn't it about time that we ask our solons to amend this law? this should be a priority instead of wasting time on investigating this, investigating that, or passing laws on renaming a street in honor of a long dead politician