Vice Ganda. Image: screengrab from Facebook/It’s Showtime
Days after figuring in a road crash due to a truck driver falling asleep, Vice Ganda reaffirmed his appeal to the former’s service company and transportation service to provide assistance, even as he emphasized the need of taking accountability for the incident.
The actor-comedian expressed his concern for the driver during an interview with ABS-CBN News last Tuesday, Aug. 22, as he noticed that the driver was being “passed around” by the truck’s contractor and the company he worked for while he was questioned by authorities.
“Tinatanong ako ng pulis kung sasampahan ba ‘yung driver. Sino ba sasagot kasi ang sabi raw, hindi raw sasagutin ng [company] kasi sasagutin ng contractor, ‘yung may-ari ng truck. Sabi naman ng may-ari ng truck, hindi raw nila sasagutin ‘yun kasi sagot daw ‘yun ng driver. Oo, tama. Kasalanan naman talaga ng driver ‘diba, pero nakakaawa rin,” he said.
“Paano niya sasagutin ‘yung Cadillac at Mercedes Benz at may dalawa pa siyang nabangga? Paano ‘yun? Kaya pakiusap ko, sana tulungan naman nila yung driver. Tulungan ng contractor niya… tutal malaking kompanya naman ‘yon. Tulungan diba? Hindi ‘yung biglang… sa driver lang,” he further added.
(The police were asking me if I was going to file a case against the driver. Who will be responsible for the accident because the service company won’t be responsible, saying the trucking contractor would handle it. However, the contractor said they wouldn’t be responsible because it’s the driver’s fault. Yes, they’re right. It’s the driver’s fault. But I can’t help but feel sorry. How will he handle the Cadillac, Mercedes Benz, and the two other victims? How? This is why I appeal for assistance for the driver. The contractor must help him. After all, it’s a big company. Help him. Don’t just put the blame on the driver.)
While the “It’s Showtime” host is eyeing legal action against the driver, he pointed out that the contractor and transportation service company shouldn’t abandon him at such a crucial time.
“Magsasampa din ako… someone is accountable. Kung ‘yung driver man… pero sana bigyan naman ng assistance ng [kompanya] at contractor niya, huwag namang iwanan nang mag-isa ‘yung driver,” he said. “Kaya nga sabi ko, tutulong o magbibigay lang sila ng reaksyon kung may namatay? Kung may namatay, diba magre-reach out ‘yung kumpanya? So porket walang namatay? Walang gan’un? Nakakalungkot din na parang—hindi ko alam anong nangyari—pero parang naiwan sa ere ‘yung driver.”
(I’m eyeing legal action. Someone is accountable. But if it’s towards the driver, I hope that he’s receiving assistance from his company and contractor. He shouldn’t be left alone in the dark. This is why I said, are they going to help or issue a statement when someone dies? Because there are instances where companies reach out if someone dies. But since no one died, nothing? It makes me sad because even if I don’t know what exactly happened, the driver was abandoned by both parties.)
The “Praybeyt Benjamin” star also clarified that the four-vehicle accident happened last Aug. 20 at around “12:30 a.m. along Katipunan in Quezon City,” saying he was heading to a birthday party for Wendell Ramos at the time.
Reports of Vice Ganda’s accident circulated on social media after one Jeppooyy Bekillyou uploaded a clip of the actor-comedian checking up on fellow victims, on the latter’s Facebook page. /ra