A man was injured while two establishments and a parked motorcycle were damaged after an SUV crashed along Marcos Highway in Barangay Mambugan, Antipolo City, at around noon on Sunday.
Based on the initial report from responders, the SUV, reportedly driven by actor Niño Muhlach, lost control after the actor allegedly fell asleep while driving.
The victim was reportedly eating at a nearby carinderia when the vehicle suddenly struck him.
The impact also hit his parked motorcycle and caused damage to an adjacent barbershop and sari-sari store.
Responders immediately brought the injured man to the nearby United Antipolo Specialists Hospital and Medical Center for medical treatment.
Owners of the damaged establishments said Muhlach had already reached out to them and offered to cover the costs of the damage caused by the accident.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash and establish the exact cause of the incident.
In a statement, Muhlach, whose real name is Angelo Jose Rocha Muhlach, took full responsibility for the accident and sought to clarify earlier reports regarding its cause.
Muhlach said he had not previously issued a personal statement about the incident and explained that initial information attributing the crash to mechanical failure came from preliminary police findings and did not originate from him.
He admitted that he fell asleep while driving after an extremely demanding and exhausting schedule. He said his regular driver was on a scheduled day off on Sunday, leaving him to drive himself.
“Fatigue overtook me, but that is no excuse,” Muhlach said, acknowledging that falling asleep behind the wheel directly led to the pedestrian being hit and the nearby properties being damaged.
The actor said he is prioritizing the victim’s medical care and assistance, while also committing to fully compensate and repair the damage caused to the affected establishments.
Muhlach expressed his apology to the injured man, his family, and everyone affected by the incident. He also said he is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.
