MALOLOS CITY – Marilao town Mayor Ricardo Silvestre was killed in a freak car accident after his white Land Cruiser rammed a steel post on the opposite side of the road along Prince Balagtas Avenue inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
A police report from the Mabalacat Police Station identified the mayor’s driver-bodyguard as SSgt. Rodel Alcantara, 48, of 1819 Catmon, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
Silvestre was in the backseat with his secretary identified as Karen Bonifacio, staff at the mayor’s office, at the time of the accident.
Police theorized that the mayor was not wearing a seat belt at the time of impact. The driver could have also fallen asleep, police said.
Paramedics who were first on the accident scene tried to revive the mayor and brought him to The Medical City hospital inside Clark but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Bonifacio was brought to the Angeles University Foundation hospital in Angeles City for a medical examination but was released several hours later.
Alcantara survived the crash impact but sustained life-threatening injuries. He was initially
brought to The Medical City Clark but later transferred to the Ace Doctor’s medical center in Malolos where he is now presently confined in stable condition.
Details are sketchy, but the mayor’s SUV was reportedly speeding and swerved before hitting the said lamppost. The severe impact wrecked the bullet-proof SUV’s engine, while the post’s concrete foundation was completely uprooted.
Silvestre, 65, is serving his second term as mayor. His body now lies in state at his residence in Estrella Homes, Phase 4, Brgy. Patubig, Marilao. Internment is tentatively set by the family Tuesday next week, Oct. 20 at the Loma de Gato cemetery.
By operations of law, Vice Mayor Henry Lutao will assume the post as Marilao mayor while Jun Bob dela Cruz, the first councilor, will assume the vice mayor post.