Road rage suspect pleads for sympathy

Gerrard Raymund Yu—PHOTO FROM POLICE MAJ. GEN. JOSE MELENCIO NARTATEZ JR.

Gerrard Raymund Yu, the alleged murder suspect in the Makati road rage incident on Tuesday, appealed to the public on Friday not to hastily judge him, saying he was a “good person.”

Yu, 33, was detained in the Makati City Police Station (MCPS) custodial facility since Thursday (not in Camp Crame as previously reported). As he was brought out to attend the online inquest, he covered his face with a black shirt and squatted while walking, keeping his head low.

“I’m pleading to the media: I’m a good person, I’m not evil,” said Yu, a businessman. “I’m pleading to the public not to judge me. Because all the people know who I am.”

Makati Chief of Police Edward Madlaeng Cutiyog said on Friday that Yu claimed he was in Iloilo during the shooting, but the police learned he had already returned before the incident.

The Inquirer reached out to the suspect’s lawyer, Abraham Asia, to clarify the alibi but he has yet to respond as of this writing.

Enough evidence, witness

Aside from this, the Makati police chief said they had other evidence against Yu, including paraffin and ballistic tests.

Yu was arrested on Wednesday morning at his residence in Riverside Village, Pasig City, where they also seized the Mercedes-Benz parked outside that the authorities believed to be the vehicle used by the suspect.

During the arrest, the plate number DAD98670 was attached to the car but when they inspected the vehicle they found the plate number BCS77, which was what the witness saw the attacker used in the incident.

House helper Marites Valmorio, 47, was in the backseat of the white Toyota Innova with her 7-year-old ward. They were being driven to Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa by their stay-in driver Aniceto Mateo, 66.

While driving their vehicles, both Yu and Mateo were seen entering the Edsa-Ayala tunnel where they later tried to outmaneuver each other toward the exit. After a heated exchange at around 2:30 p.m., Yu allegedly shot Mateo dead.

Authorities believe that the .40-caliber pistol seized from Yu was the murder weapon.

Cutiyog also said that Valmorio saw the attacker’s vehicle as well as his face and identified Yu when shown his pictures.

The initial inquest on Friday was for murder and illegal firearms possession, or violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.