Sonny Camarillo, a veteran photojournalist and former president of the Press Photographers of the Philippines and the Camera Club of the Philippines, cheated death when he was hit from behind his car by a 10-wheeler truck fully loaded with “blue sand” on May 8, 2016 on the eve of election day. Camarillo was not able to cast his votes as he was hospitalized before and during the presidential elections.
According to Camarillo, truck driver Harold Reyes Cabana, 22 years old, was driving the Howo Sino Truck when it lost its brakes along Central Avenue in Culiat, Quezon City.
Cabana said he tried to stop the truck and even sounded the horn repeatedly. Upon reaching near the intersection of Central and Visayas avenues, the truck hit a taxicab that forced it to swerve to the right, hitting Camarillo’s Nissan car. The impact was so hard that the whole back portion of the car was pushed all the way to the front seats. Camarillo was pinned between the steering wheel and the backseat of his car. He suffered chest pain and a deep cut on his head. He was able get out with the help of people in the vicinity. His car was a total wreck.
Both the Howo 10-wheeler and another truck are under the name of Diamond Blessed Construction owned by Maria Victoria Hernandez Sagun who was quarrying “blue sand” in Rodriguez, Rizal, formerly Montalban. Sagun is the sister of incumbent Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Cecilio “Selyong” Hernandez. Camarillo lamented the arrogance and irresponsible attitude of the truck owner for not making any efforts to help Camarillo.
May 8 when the accident happened. She abandoned both her driver and the victim completely ignoring her responsibilities on the matter. Sonny Camarillo who sustained lacerations on his head requiring five stitches was never visited nor offered assistance by the truck owner.
