CAUGHT ON DASHCAM The security guard is shown being run over in this screengrab of the dashcam footage. —VIDEO courtesy of Miko Angelo Ramos
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. has asked the sports utility vehicle (SUV) owner in the viral hit-and-run incident to wait for the arrest order to come out, warning him that he will have his own day in court.
After Monday’s flag-raising ceremony in Camp Crame, Danao said that he hopes the SUV owner does not turn into ‘Santo Vicente’ — a play on the personality’s last name, whom he identified as a certain Mr. San Vicente.
“Sabi ko nga you have your own day in court, now ayaw mo magpakita, napaka-simpleng problema naman sana na kaya pa nating ayusin, eh ayaw mong magpakita, so you wait for your warrant of arrest to come out,” Danao told reporters.
“So hintayin mo ‘yong warrant of arrest, San Vicente ang apelyido mo ‘di ba? Wag ka lang sana maging Santo Vicente,” he added.
During the briefing, Danao asked if the SUV owner is a drug user as his actions — bumping and ramming over a security guard in Mandaluyong — do not reflect that of a normal person.
“So it’s Mr. San Vicente — o warning sa’yo Mr. San Vicente, kapangalan pa naman kita sa first name, sana hindi ka maging ‘San Vicente’. Take note ah, kung marunong kang umintindi sa sinasabi ko, ‘wag ka sanang umabot sa punto na magiging Santo Vicente ka,” he said.
“Eh una ikaw, china-challenge kita Mr. San Vicente. Ayaw mong summurrender, tama, o isa lang ang sasabihin ko sa’yo: baka adik ka? 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 asked.
The acting police chief also clarified that they are not allowing any supposed ‘connections’ of the SUV owner to influence them, noting that they are only awaiting for the release of the arrest order from the court.
“Okay, connections in the government, as far as I am concerned we do not have or we do not adhere or we do not agree or pinapayagan ang mga kone-koneksyon na ‘yan. If you are a violator of any laws, rules, and regulations, and any ordinances, you are obliged to face the law,” the acting PNP chief said.
Earlier, it was confirmed that the SUV owner already had a previous traffic infraction for reckless imprudence — prompting Danao to ask the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to revoke the license of the suspect so that he would not pose a danger to more people.
The SUV owner found himself in hot water after his Toyota RAV4 bearing the plate number NCO 3781 was caught on a dashboard camera hitting and ramming over a security guard along Mandaluyong’s Doña Julia Vargas Avenue.
READ: Security guard injured after hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong
The video has gone viral on social media. As a result, the security guard, identified as Christian Joseph Floralde, sustained several injuries and had to be monitored at an intensive care unit.
Last Friday, Mandaluyong City Police chief Col. Gauvin Mel Unos said that the has been released by the hospital, but the Toyota RAV4 was not found at the residence of the owner in Quezon City.
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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