DENMARK Presto appears to be contemplating his fate after surrendering Thursday to the Quezon City police, following the filing of charges against him for allegedly assaulting two traffic marshals last week. LYN RILLON
The driver of a sport utility vehicle who was caught on video pointing a gun at and hitting traffic marshals in Barangay East Kamias, Quezon City, last week finally gave himself up to the police on Thursday.
A contrite-looking Denmark Presto, 22, showed up at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal and said he was ready to face the charges filed against him.
In a quiet voice and with downcast eyes, he denied that he had been hiding from the law as he apologized to traffic enforcers Simplicio Retirado, 60 and Raul Mercado, 35.
His demeanor was in stark contrast to the one captured by a closed circuit television camera on K-6 Street in Barangay East Kamias on April 29. This was after he and his employer, businessman Scott Ian Yu, were flagged down by the traffic enforcers for going the wrong way in the one-way street.
In the video which went viral, the gun-wielding Presto was shown alighting from the driver’s side of the SUV, slamming the door open with such force that it hit Retirado who was standing beside the vehicle.
He then hit Retirado in the nape with his gun, prompting the latter to run for cover behind the SUV. Presto went after Mercado next, pointing the gun at him and then kicking him.
At this point, Yu, who was also in the SUV, stepped out with a gun. He and Presto then got back into the vehicle and drove away.
CAUGHT ON CAM Denmark Presto kicks one of the traffic marshals who accosted him and his employer, Scott Ian Yu, for doing a counterflow on a one-way street in Barangay East Kamias, Quezon City.
The two have since been charged with grave threats and direct assault upon a person in authority in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
“I just wanted to say I am not in hiding, and that I am ready to face the complaints against me,” Presto told reporters.
“I admit I did it. If I hurt anyone, I apologize. I am sorry for what I did to you,” he said.
After saying he would just face the case against him, Presto remained tightlipped.
He was accompanied by a friend of Yu who told QCPD director Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao that the businessman, who had initially pretended to be from the Philippine Army, also wanted to apologize but was too ashamed to face the media.
“I am thankful that they came to us and expressed readiness to face the case,” Pagdilao said.
“We hope that this will serve as a lesson for him to be a good employee and driver. He’s still young,” he added, referring to Presto.
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