By Felipe V. Celino
For the family of the two killed in a Cuartero vehicular crash last November 2024, there is no justice when the criminal complaint was dismissed against singer and online personality Clyde Ortencio.
Tatay Asong—the father of the 20-year-old mother and the grandfather of the two-month-old infant—expressed dismay and sadness over the decision of the Capiz Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Tatay Asong also expressed wanting to appeal the prosecutor’s decision, but lacked financial resources.
“I-appeal tani namon ang desisyon sang prosecutor para mahatagan hustisya ang akon bata kag apo, galing wala kami kwarta ibayad sa abogado, (We wanted to appeal the prosecutor’s decision to seek justice for my daughter and grandchild, but we don’t have the money to pay for a lawyer),” Tatay Asong said.
In an eight-page resolution obtained by The Capiz Times, the prosecutor cited lack of prima facie evidence to convict Ortencio of reckless imprudence resulting in double homicide if tried in court.
While Ortencio was “partially at fault”, the prosecutor found that the driver of the tricycle Leomar Gellangarin was supposed to have the “last clear chance to avoid the collision.”
The prosecutor also found that Gellangarin—the live-in partner of the dead mother and the father of the dead infant—did not have a driver’s license while the registration for the tricycle was expired.
Tatay Asong also confirmed that while Ortencio previously offered a financial settlement, it did not push through as their family was not able to provide receipts when the mother and infant were not yet buried at that time.
In a statement, Ortencio extended his sympathies to the victims’ family and said he waited “until the family had space to grieve and the investigation concluded before addressing the recent accident.”
Ortencio also addressed the public.
“I ask everyone to focus on verified facts rather than mere speculation. Nevertheless, it was an accident that no one wanted to happen, and I believe that we are all victims of this circumstance,” Ortencio said.
