THE suspected assailant of Grab driver Gerardo Maquidato Jr. said Wednesday, November 8, that he accidentally killed the latter after he refused to give his money.
Narc Tulod Delemios surrendered to authorities on the evening of November 7, a day after police identified him as Maquidato's killer.
“Alam ko mahihirapan kayong mapatawad ako pero pera lang ang gusto ko sa kanya pero lumaban po siya (I know it will be hard for you to forgive me. I only wanted his money but he resisted),” the suspect told Maquidato's family Wednesday at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Maquidato, a partner-driver of ride-sharing app Grab, was found with a shot to his head on October 26 along Bonanza Street in Barangay 189, Pasay City. The suspect fled with Maquidato's car. Witnesses said they saw a man pulling the victim off a gray Toyota Innova before fleeing.
Maquidato's widow, Brenda, was emotional during the presentation of the suspect. She said her husband couldn't have resisted, as the suspect claimed.
“Alam ko hindi lalaban ang asawa ko. Alam ko gusto niyang bumalik sa pamilya niya. Alam ko ang iniisip niya paano siya makaaalis sa ‘yo para makauwi sa amin (I know my husband would not have resisted. I know he wanted to return to his family. I know he was just thinking of how he would be able to escape from you so he could go home to us),” she said.
The victim's mother chided the suspect for killing her son.
“Hindi mo pinagbigyan. Bakit mo ginawa? Napakawalang puso mo, masahol ka pa sa hayop (You did not give him the chance. Why did you do that? You are heartless. You are worse than an animal),” she said.
Authorities have found out that the suspect has a standing arrest warrant issued by the Paranaque regional trial court in February 2015 for murder.
Maquidato's vehicle was recovered in Barangay Matatalaib in Tarlac City, where Delemios allegedly went into hiding. (SunStar Philippines)