Toril police filed charges on Monday against a 28-year-old woman for disrupting the IRONMAN 70.3 bike course, endangering herself and the athletes.
Acting City Police Office Director Col. Hansel Marantan confirmed in an interview on Monday that the cases had been filed.
Major Neil Vistar, Toril Police Deputy Commander, told the TIMES that the woman faces charges for violating Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code), Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (Resisting and Disobeying a Person in Authority), and Republic Act 10054 (Motorcycle Helmet Law).
The woman, identified only as “Kriszelle” by authorities, was driving a motorcycle against the flow of traffic while filming a video.
According to the report, she entered the race route at the MacArthur Highway corner GTH in Barangay Toril Proper around 10:30 a.m. and continued toward Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
Police attempted to stop her, but she ignored their warnings and accelerated instead.
She was eventually apprehended with the assistance of other road security officers at the national highway corner crossing Aplaya de Oboza in Barangay Darong, Sta. Cruz.
Fortunately, no race participants were injured during the incident.
She is now detained at Toril Police Station.
In addition to the charge for Violation of Article 151 of the RPC, the rider also faces charges for driving without a driver’s license, failure to wear a helmet, counterflow, unsafe driving, and failure to present OR/CR (Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration).
In a Sunday afternoon interview, Major Neil Vistar explained the danger of the woman’s actions during the Ironman event:
“At that point, there were many cyclists on the course who could have been seriously injured. We handled the situation swiftly and arrested her to prevent a potential tragedy,” he said.
“The woman was driving her motorcycle against traffic from the McLeod intersection near the gas station, heading south. The leading cyclists were already making their U-turn, so it was extremely dangerous. Thankfully, no accidents occurred during her reckless counter-flowing,” he added.
Acting station commander Major Sheryl Bautista said, “With the swift response of our security detail at the area, the violator was immediately apprehended, and fortunately, no participants of the said event were hurt or injured during the said incident.”
“Likewise, we remind the public that the Davao City Police Office will always be diligent in performing our duties, especially in ensuring the safety and security of the general public in special events that will happen in Davao City, particularly in this Kadayawan season. No violator or anyone who plans to cause harm or disrupt the peace and order in the city will be exempted,” she further said.
