Driver in Mandaluyong hit-and-run case to ‘surrender soon,’ senator told
Senator-elect JV Ejercito during one of his campaign sorties prior to the election. File photo / Yolanda Sotelo
MANILA, Philippines — The driver in the hit-and-run incident that injured a security guard directing traffic in Mandaluyong City will “surrender to authorities soon,” an emissary told Senator-elect JV Ejercito, who earlier offered a P50,000 reward for any information on the involved vehicle and driver.
“I don’t know them at all. I only offered [a] reward for info on [the] vehicle and driver. Forwarded everything to authorities They have to face the consequences of that act,” Ejercito told INQUIRER.net in an online message on Tuesday when asked on the matter.
“An emissary just said they will surrender to authorities soon,” he added.
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After being ran over by the SUV, the security guard was confined to the VRP Medical Center. He sustained an abrasion on the left backside of the head and had difficulty breathing.
Ejercito earlier took to social media to express his anger over what happened.
“Putting up a P50k reward for any info regarding this evil and idiot driver who purposely ran over a traffic enforcer,” the senator-elect said in a tweet late Sunday.
Putting up a P50k reward for any info regarding this evil and idiot driver who purposely ran over a traffic enforcer.
Really furious watching the video!https://t.co/1b4DgxN33v
— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) June 5, 2022
On Monday night, Ejercito said the owner of the vehicle sent him a message through an emissary.
“Owner of Toyota Rav 4 driven by his son sent message for me through an emissary that they will shoulder the medical expenses of the guard and that they will face the consequences,” he said.
Owner of Toyota Rav 4 driven by his son sent message for me through an emissary that they will shoulder the medical expenses of the guard and that they will face the consequences.
— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) June 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Ejercito also refuted claims online that he is acting as a “padrino.”
“So ako pa ngayon ang Padrino? Gusto ko nga sapakin driver nitong Rav 4 ng mapanood ko ang video. Magbasa man lang sana bago mag kumento [So now I’m the one acting as a Padrino (protector)? I actually wanted to punch the driver of the vehicle when I saw the video. Read before commenting],” he said in a tweet.
“Sa socmed marami ang di nagbabasa, basta lang may masabi, ngayon ko napatunayan. Galit na galit ako sa nangyari sa pagsagasa sa guard, gusto ko upakan ang driver. Nag offer ako ng reward sa impormasyon. Ngayon padrino na daw ako at tiga areglo. Susme,” he added.
(On social media, I was able to prove that many people don’t read and just say what they want. I was very angry with what happened to the guard who was run over, I wanted to punch the driver. I offered a reward for information. Now, I am being called a padrino [protector] and someone who is lobbying for a settlement.)
“Twitter is toxic. Gusto mo lang tumulong mahanap, napasama ka pa [You just wanted to help find those involved, but you end up earning flak for it],” he said in a separate Twitter post.
