What was meant to be a surprise homecoming for an overseas Filipino worker turned into an emergency return after her 11-year-old son was fatally struck by a pickup truck while crossing a marked pedestrian lane in Oriental Mindoro, according to a report aired on GMA News “24 Oras”.
Monica Linga, who works in Dubai, said she had been planning to come home later this year to attend either her son’s birthday or his elementary graduation. Instead, she flew back immediately after learning that her child, Dawn Rafaele Linga—known to the family as “Rafraf”—had died following a road crash in Barangay Nabuslot, Pinamalayan.
“’Yung anak ko nasa kabaong na. ‘Yung pangarap kong uuwi ako sana sa graduation niya o sa birthday niya. Hindi. Uuwi ako dahil patay siya,” Linga said in an interview with GMA News “24 Oras,” as reported by JP Soriano.
CCTV footage reviewed by authorities showed the child waiting on the pedestrian lane along the South Road National Highway on Sunday, allowing vehicles to stop before crossing. When one truck slowed down, the boy ran forward, but another pickup truck, reportedly traveling at speed, overtook and hit him.
Rafraf was rushed to hospital but later died from severe internal injuries. Linga said she had left her son in the care of her mother while she worked overseas to support his future.
Seeking clarity on the incident, the grieving mother questioned the actions of the driver involved. “’Yung sagot lang, kung ano yung nangyari. ‘Yun lang ang gusto kong malaman. Pero alam ko na, wala na ‘yung anak ko…. Pero gusto kong malaman anong nangyari. Nasaan siya nun?” she said.
She also described what she believes was a failure to slow down at the crossing. “May tumigil na truck, bakit hindi man lang niya naisip na mag-slow down? Nag-overtake po siya. Ang lakas ng bungo niya sa anak ko, tumilapon ‘yung anak ko. Ang layo ng pinagtapunan ng anak ko. Ni wala ng halos dugong lumabas kasi internal lahat ang injury ng anak ko,” Linga added.
The local government of Pinamalayan has directed police to fast-track the investigation into the child’s death. Separately, the Land Transportation Office summoned both the driver and the vehicle owner to appear before the agency for a hearing scheduled on January 16.
The LTO has already imposed a 90-day suspension on the driver’s license involved in the crash. LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the agency would enforce accountability and strengthen driver training, stressing in a statement: “Ang pagkawala ng buhay ng isang bata dahil sa kapabayaan o kawalan ng disiplina sa kalsada ay hindi maaaring balewalain. Ang LTO ay determinadong tiyakin na ang bawat driver na nasa kalsada ay may sapat na pagsasanay, alam ang mga batas trapiko, at may respeto sa karapatan at kaligtasan ng lahat.”
