Driver of vehicle that killed 5 Pinoys in Qatar faces criminal charges

Criminal charges are set to be filed against the driver of the vehicle blamed for the deaths of five Filipinos in Qatar early October, a television report said Tuesday.

A report on GMA News TV's “Balitanghali,” citing Qatar's  Ministry of Interior, said investigators found out that the driver was overspeeding during the accident.

The report did not identify the suspect.

The victims were killed last October 6 when their car caught fire after being hit by another vehicle near the airport on the Corniche-Wakra highway.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the three fatalities were a family based in Qatar while the other two are Saudi Arabia-based nurses who were visiting Qatar during the Eid al-Adha holidays.

The victims had been identified as Ben Chris Rivera and his wife Josephine and their one-year-old son Adrian; and nurses Marilou Cal and Joyce Lozada Gelli.

A sixth victim, a nurse in Saudi Arabia who was reportedly related to the Riveras, survived the accident.

The “Balitanghali” report said the family members of each victim will receive 200,000 Qater riyals or P2.4 million as blood money, based on the country's laws. —Amanda Fernandez/KBK, GMA News

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