PNP: SUV owner in viral hit-and-run has previous reckless imprudence case

MANILA, Philippines — The owner of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) involved in the viral hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City already had a previous traffic infraction for reckless imprudence, Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. said on Monday.

In a briefing after the flag raising ceremony at Camp Crame, Danao called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to revoke the license of the suspect — whom he identified as a certain Mr. San Vicente — so that he would not pose danger to more people.

“Yes, meron na itong the same case (Yes, he has a similar case), okay take note, this is not the first time that he has a case of reckless imprudence. So meron na ‘to pala, according sa (So he had a case already, according to) LTO,” Danao told reporters.

“So request ko lang sa ating mga LTO, dapat no’ng una pa lang, sinuspende na ‘yong kanyang lisensya.  Itong pangalawa dapat hindi lang suspendihin, ‘di ba, dapat ito i-revoke ang kanyang lisensya.  Why?  Driver’s license is only a privilege, it is not our right, kahit ako.  If you abuse it, definitely it should be revoked,” he added.

(So my request to our LTO, maybe they should have suspended his license on the first offense. This time around, it should not be merely suspended, but revoked.)

Danao said that he is not aware of the details of the previous case.  However, he also addressed the suspect, asking him if he was a drug user as he failed to surrender to authorities.

“Unfortunately, the owner, take note, the owner of the vehicle refused to surrender.  So the possibility is, guilty ka, bakit ayaw mong sumurrender?  ‘Di ba?  Unang-una identified na nga ‘yong may ari, kung hindi man ikaw ang gumagamit ng sasakyan ng panahon na ‘yan, eh dapat you have to defend yourself,” he said.

(Unfortunately, the owner, take note, the owner of the vehicle refused to surrender. So the possibility is that you are guilty, that’s why you do not want to surrender? Right? First of all, we have identified you, if you were not driving the car during that day, you should defend yourself.)

“Natural courses of a decent man who is in his right senses, will definitely surrender immediately.  But, ito ang tanong ninyo, bakit hindi sumusurrender?  Eh una ikaw, china-challenge kita Mr. San Vicente.  Ayaw mong summurrender, tama, o isa lang ang sasabihin ko sa’yo: baka adik ka?” he asked.

(Natural courses of a decent man who is in his right senses, will definitely surrender immediately. But, this is my question to you, why won’t you surrender? This is my challenge to you Mr. San Vicente. You do not want to surrender, right, so I will only tell you one thing: maybe you are a drug addict?)

The top cop also claimed that the SUV owner’s actions did not show a person in the right sense.

“Ba’t ayaw mo sumurrender?  Because no person in his right senses will do that, nakabangga ka na nga ng tao imbes na hintuan mo eh lalo mo pang sinagasaan, o anong klaseng utak ‘yan?” he said.

(Why won’t you surrender? Because no person in his right senses will do that, after hitting a person instead of stopping to help, you ran him over. What kind of thinking is that?)

It could be remembered that a Toyota RAV4 bearing the plate number NCO 3781 went viral on social media after it was caught on a dashboard camera hitting — and then ramming over — a security guard managing traffic along Mandaluyong’s Doña Julia Vargas Avenue.

As a result, the security guard sustained several injuries and had to be monitored at an intensive care unit.  Mandaluyong City Police chief Col. Gauvin Mel Unos said last Friday that the victim has been released from the hospital.

However, Unos also said that the SUV was nowhere to be found, as police did not find the RAV4 when they visited the owner’s residence in Quezon City.  An alarm has been raised for both the vehicle and the license of the car owner, which would allow authorities to flag down the car.

Last Friday, the owner also failed to attend the hearing set by the LTO, prompting the agency to proceed with the case without listening to the side of the suspect.

The driver is facing charges for frustrated murder and abandoning the victim.  Last Wednesday, Unos said that they also filed obstruction of justice complaints against the security guard of the subdivision where the suspect is believed to be a resident of, after they failed to cooperate with the investigation.

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