Governor seeks probe on Cagayan drag race

By Vince Jacon Visaya 

TUGUEGARAO CITY -- Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba has ordered the Cagayan police to investigate the drag racing that took place last week in Baggao town which caused injuries to four people, noting that the event was illegal.
    Mamba also instructed the police to file charges against the organizers if found liable.
    At the same time, he slammed local officials for allowing the event to take place despite the pandemic.
    The Cagayan Provincial Information Office said four people were hurt when a wayward car involved in an alleged illegal drag race plowed a line of spectators during a village feast in San Jose, Baggao, Cagayan last week.
    Rogelio Sending Jr., Cagayan provincial information officer, identified the wounded as Rodel Vergara, 17; Jomar Cuevas, 17; Jaykim Pagaduan, 20, and car driver Renato Soriano, 42.
    The event, dubbed friendly race, apparently did not have the clearance from town and police officials. 
    A separate police report issued by the Cagayan Police showed that Soriano's Mitsubishi Lancer raced with the Toyota Corolla driven by Karlo Christopher Lazaro, 23.
    The report said that aside from the wounded victims, Soriano's car also hit an Isuzu Elf and a Honda Civic.
    A case for multiple slight physical injuries has been lodged against Soriano, police added.
    The Baggao town council passed an ordinance in 2020 calling for the stoppage of drag racing in the municipality and slapping penalty against the violators.