THE driver of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) who was involved in a hit-and-run incident of a security guard last week behind SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City has surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.
In a press conference at Camp Crame, PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. presented Jose Antonio Sanvicente, the driver and registered owner of the white Toyota Rav 4 that ran over security guard Christian Joseph Floralde who was directing traffic on Sunday, June 5.
For the first time since the incident happened, Sanvicente publicly apologized to Floralde.
“My apologies sa nangyari. My apologies kay Mister Floralde at sa kanyang pamilya,” he said.
(My apologies for what happened. My apologies to Mister Floralde and his family.)
Sanvicente snubbed the summons of authorities, especially the Land Transportation Office (LTO) that earlier sought his explanation on the incident.
His mother, who refused to be named, said they decided to surrender and face the people following the warning issued by Danao.
"Masisira ang buhay ng anak ko. For any parent ba, ganun ba gusto niyo sa anak niyo? Mabait ang anak ko. Nagtatrabaho siya, he is a very responsible man. Ito aksidente naman talaga ito. Lumaki lang ng lalaki and I (disclosed) that kasi ano na mangyari sa future ng anak ko hindi ba? Maayos ang anak ko. Sino ba may gusto na takbuhan yun? Siyempre na-rattle na rin siya hindi ba," she said.
(My son's life will be ruined. Is this what any parent would want their child to be? My son is a good person. He works, he is a very responsible man. This was really an accident. What would happen to my son’s future? My son is in his right mind. Who wants to run away from this situation? He was just rattled.)
“Kasi naglabas na si General Danao sa news. Natakot na talaga ako, then I said, gawin na natin. We have to go to General Danao already. Mag-surrender, magpakita,” she said.
(General Danao had already spoken to the news [about my son]. I was really scared. Then I said to my son, let's do it. We have to go to General Danao already. Surrender, show up.)
On Monday, Danao Jr. floated the idea that Sanvicente could be a drug addict that gave him the guts to do what he did.
“Now ayaw mo magpakita, napakasimpleng problema naman sana na kaya pa natin ayusin, ayaw mo magpakita so you wait for your warrant of arrest to come out. Hintayin mo ‘yung warrant of arrest, San Vicente yung apelyido mo hindi ba? Huwag ka lang sana maging Santo Vicente,” Danao earlier said.
(Now you don't want to show up, it's a very simple problem that we can fix. Just wait for your warrant of arrest to come out. San Vicente is your last name, isn't it? I hope you don’t become “Saint Vicente.”)
His father, Joel, also defended his son, saying that what he did was a natural response of a person after such an incident.
“Hindi nakapag isip ng maayos eh. Hindi po ba natural lang sa unang may ganyang kagrabeng insidente abugado na tatawagan mo kasi hindi na clear ‘yung mind kasi anak ko,” he said when asked about the delay of their surrender.
(He couldn’t think straight. Isn't it natural for a person to act that way when an incident like that happens, that you call a lawyer because your child is already distressed.)
‘Panic’
Sanvicente said he panicked when he hit Floralde.
Floralde was directing traffic at the corner of Julia Vargas Avenue and St. Francis Street in Mandaluyong City when he stopped the said SUV heading towards SM Megamall.
Refusing to stop, the SUV hit Floralde who dropped to the ground.
Instead of helping, the SUV ran over him and fled.
“Hindi ko na po talaga maalala kasi blur na since nung nangyari. Hindi ko na maalala,” said Sanvicente.
(I have a vague recollection of what happened because it’s all a blur now. I really couldn’t remember.)
Sanvicente refused to answer further questions about the incident, saying he will do so in the right forum which is in court.
Charges of frustrated murder have already been filed against Sanvicente before the Mandaluyong City Trial Court.
Sanvicente denied using illegal drugs but said he will seek first the advice of his lawyer for the possible conduct of drug tests on him.
His legal counsel, Danny Macalino, said they tried to reach out to the family of Floralde to extend assistance, but they were denied access.
Sanvicente went home free after the press conference pending the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
His vehicle, however, was confiscated by the PNP-Highway Patrol Group. (SunStar Philippines)