At the scene of the crash at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on May 4, 2025. ARCHIVE

The driver of the SUV that rammed into a crowd at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, killing two people and injuring several others, faces up to six years in jail, according to the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO). Attorney Revelyn Ramos-Dacpano, head of the Executive Support Staff at PAO, confirmed on Thursday (May 8) that the case is bailable and carries a penalty ranging from two to six years in prison if the driver is found guilty. “The case is bailable. His penalty is from two years in jail to six years in jail,” Ramos-Dacpano said. She also disclosed that PAO will represent the driver in the legal proceedings. The driver faces charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries, and damage to property, according to PAO. The tragic incident happened on Sunday (May 4), when the company-owned SUV, used by the driver to drop off his employer, lost control and plowed into passengers waiting at the departure entrance of NAIA Terminal 1. Among the fatalities was a 29-year-old Filipino man identified as Dearick Faustino, who was about to board a flight for a six-day business trip to Dubai. He was a senior supervisor for a publishing company and the sole breadwinner of his family. Faustino’s family is in mourning, especially as he was supposed to celebrate his 30th birthday on May 29. His remains are now in wake at Barangay Abulalas in Hagonoy, Bulacan. The other fatality was a four-year-old girl, whose father is an overseas Filipino worker en route to Europe. The child’s father, Denmark Masongsong, said, “He has to face the law,” adding in Filipino that he will never forgive the driver for killing his daughter and seriously injuring his wife. Ramos-Dacpano said the driver claimed he experienced a "mental block" during the incident. Inquest proceedings were held on Monday, and the driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol. PAO confirmed that coordination with the company that owns the SUV is still pending. Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers has vowed full assistance to the families of both victims. ICA/CAM/Expat Media
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