ILIGAN CITY —– Inside a white coffin in San Guillermo Funeral Homes in Barangay Poblacion, Iligan City lays a mother and her child who perished in a vehicular accident last week in this city.
Mary Ivy Caturay, 23, was declared dead on arrival at the hospital after she was run over by a Toyota Hilux pickup driven by Rowaina Garlan, 44, widow, and resident of Baraas, Barangay Tubod, around 5:00 PM on Friday (May 8) along Roxas Avenue, Barangay Villaverde.
Caturay hails from Wao, Lanao del Sur and was a working student in Iligan City where she was supposed to graduate from an education course last March 27.
Major Amando Cordova, officer-in-charge of Iligan City’s Traffic Division, said their initial investigation revealed that Caturay was crossing the pedestrian lane along Roxas Avenue on her way to buy some medicines when she was run over by Garlan.
“She (Caturay) was immediately brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the physician in attendance. The suspect did not attempt to escape,” Cordova said. Garlan is temporarily detained at Iligan City Police Station 5, as of this writing.
Caturay’s mother, Elena, said her daughter was five-months pregnant and was set to get married to her fiancé, an Army soldier, when the coronavirus pandemic was over.
The five-month fetus inside her womb also died and lies beside its mother inside the coffin.
The remains of the two victims are set to be transported to Wao for the burial.
Cordova said a case will be filed today, May 11, if the victim’s family will pursue filing charges against her.
Greg Vera Cruz, Caturay’s uncle who represents the victims’ family, said Garlan has apologized to them and shouldered all expenses for the victims’ funeral.
“We the family of Ivy asked the public, especially netizens, not to bash the suspect because she already apologized. No one wanted it to happen, it was an accident. They took care of all our expenses,” Vera Cruz said.
