'GAS-AND-RUN': Drivers flee after filling tank without paying

'GAS-AND-RUN': Drivers flee after filling tank without paying Two incidents of gas-and-run were reported in Quezon City and Bacolod City as the nation reels from the high prices of fuel brought about by the Middle East conflict. According to a "24 Oras" report by James Agustin on Friday, CCTV footage at a gas station along EDSA's Southbound lane in Quezon City at around 1 a.m. last Sunday showed a multi-purpose vehicle having its gas refilled. The footage showed the vehicle speeding away towards EDSA without paying the bill. The pump attendant was seen chasing after the vehicle, even hailing a motorcycle to try to chase down the vehicle, but to no avail. “Nilapitan ko na po si customer and sabi niya po diesel daw po, full tank. Nag-double-check po ako kay customer ng product badge po, okay naman daw po, nagsenyas lang sa akin ng okay. Kinargahan ko na po hanggang sa mag-matic na po sinara ko na po yung gas tank ni sir. Pagkasara ko po bigla na lang po tumakbo si customer,” said the pump attendant. (I approached the customer and he said he needed diesel, full tank. I double-checked the product badge with the customer and he said it was okay, and signalled to me that it was okay. I loaded him up until it was automatically stopped, so I closed the gas tank. Once I closed it, the customer sped away.) The driver’s bill totaled P5,196.45, which will be deducted from the pump attendant’s salary. “Sa akin po ibinawas ‘yon. Pumirma po ako ng deduction letter po… Sobrang hirap po sir may anak po kasi ako nagdedede, nag-gagatas pati sobrang abala rin po sa istasyon namin sir,” he added. (They deducted it from me. I signed a deduction letter… It’s so hard because I have a child who still needs milk, and it’s such a major inconvenience on our station.) The incident has been reported to the La Loma Police Station, which will conduct follow-up operations. Authorities noted that CCTV footage did not clearly show the plate number at the front of the vehicle, while the back plate was covered with cloth. “Nakapag-back tracking na rin po kami sa mga CCTV na pinanggalingan ng suspek at nag forward tracking na rin kami ng mga CCTV rin kung saan papunta itong suspek,” said La Loma Police Station Commander Police Lieutenant Colonel Jose Luis Aguirre. (We have since conducted backtracking on CCTV as to where the suspect came from, and also forward-tracking of CCTV to determine where the suspect is going.) Quezon City Police Department Director Police Brigadier General Randy Glenn Silvio headed towards the station where the incident occurred. “Hindi pa po namin nakausap yung may-ari ng gasolinahan kaya gumawa na lang kami ng letter at inaanyayahan namin siya dito sa aming istasyon,” Aguirre shared. (We still haven’t talked to the owner of the gas station so we just made a letter and invited him to our station.) “Sana sumuko ka na at pagbayaran mo ginawa mo sa akin. Ang laking perwisyo ng ginawa mo sa akin,” added the pump attendant. (I hope he surrenders and pays for what he did to me. He’s done such a big inconvenience to me.) Meanwhile, another gas-and-run incident took place in Bacolod City. According to the gas station manager, the vehicle escaped with a P500 balance. The manager said the balance will not be deducted from the newly-hired gas attendant’s salary. Authorities are now coordinating with the Land Transportation Office in the Negros Island Region to look for the driver. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News