Victim's mom forgives driver in mixer accident, ABS CBN

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Victim's mom forgives driver in mixer accident

By Dharel Placido, ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 04/24/2013 1:12 PM | Updated as of 04/24/2013 1:13 PM

Marie Cherrie Inzon. File photo

MANILA – The mother of a college student who was crushed to death by a cement mixer has found forgiveness in her heart, even as she is still reeling from the tragedy of losing her only child.
Marie Cherrie Inzon, a 20-year-old Marketing student from Siena College, died Tuesday after being crushed by a cement mixer.
An investigation revealed that the truck lost its balance after one its tires fell into a gutter, crushing Marie Cherrie who was reportedly listening to music using earphones.
Sally Inzon, Marie Cherrie's mother, said she has forgiven Reynald Guarte, driver of the cement mixer.
"Ako at saka ang kapatid kong madre na nakausap niya, we are one in our [decision] - we forgive him. He was very sorry. He was very, very sorry. He did not intentionally did it. It was really an accident," Sally told dzMM's Rated Korina.
"Iyung mga nanay na magkakaroon rin ng ganito - sana wala. Ang message ko is learn how to forgive. Learn how to forgive because it is only then that the pressure in your heart will be released. So masakit man, ang hirap tanggapin, pero tatanggapin ko," she added, when asked for her message to those who are or had been in the same situation as hers.
Guarte is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, damage to property, and multiple serious physical injuries. However, the company which owns the cement mixer has reportedly reached an amicable settlement with the Inzon family.
This means that the inquest proceedings against Guarte will not push through for the time being. SPO4 Raymundo Layug of Quezon City Traffic Sector 1 said they are studying the possibility of filing the case against Guarte themselves.
Daughter was loved, 'well-protected'
Sally admitted she still finds it hard to accept the death of her daughter. She described her daughter as "well-protected."
The grieving mother said Marie Cherrie, or "Che", stayed in a dorm in Siena College. She said she decided to have her daughter stay near school to avoid the dangers of commuting.
"Kasi ayaw ko siyang palabas-labas ng school. So 'yung kapatid kong madre, doktor siya na may clinic sa loob ng Siena. So kung may sakit ka man, pwede mo siyang mahanap. So she was well-protected. That was three years. Okay lang yung three years na iyun, wala siyang complaint," Sally said.
Sally also noted that Marie Cherrie died on the second day of her summer internship when the accident occurred.
"Second day pa lang iya sa OJT, second day namatay siya," Sally said, crying.
"And I saw in the text of the owner of the company she was working: 'Che where are you? Why didn't you report?' Sabi ko: 'Che is already dead, she met an accident while she was on her way to your place.'"
She also said that a check of the messages in the cellphone of Marie Cherrie yielded plenty of messages of love for her daughter.
"I never thought na ang dami palang nagla-love sa anak ko. Marami, maraming-marami. I could see that sa mga text. It pains me na hindi ko alam na ano pala siya ng mga kaibigan niya," she said.
She added: "She's a good leader. She belongs to organizations that go out of their way to hep the poor."
Premonition
Sally also shared that she somehow had a premonition of the death of Marie Cherrie, citing how her daughter had treated her lately.
"She was trying to make some distance. Yung parang ano ba ito? Hindi ko na naabutan. Noon, every week she goes home. She was excited. Now she was trying to make some distance. Sabi ko siguro mag-aasawa na," said Sally, adding that her daughter had a boyfriend at the time of her death.
Now that her daughter is gone, Sally said she is trying to fill the void by pretending to have conversations with her daughter.
"I am sure I'll miss her a lot. Sabi niya sa akin, maski nawala siya we will still talk. Wala ka nang makukulit. Wala ka ng maasar. Kasi ang lambing ko sa kanya asar," she said.
Marie Cherrie was the lone fatality in yesterday's accident. Eight others – 3 pedestrians and 5 jeepney passengers – were wounded in the mishap.
Her remains arrived Wednesday noon at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in UP Village.- with a report from Johnson Manabat, dzMM