2 convicted in 2019 Tagaytay road rage incident
Two persons were convicted in connection with the death of a veterinarian during a road rage incident in Tagaytay City in 2019.
Gilbert Gatpandan and Laurence Arroyo were found guilty of homicide for the death of Teddy Senen Tanchanco, Tagaytay Regional Trial Court Branch 133 Judge Gian Enrico Navarro said in a 10-page decision promulgated on Thursday.
Gatpandan was sentenced to up to eight years in prison. Arroyo was meted with a prison term of six to 10 years.
The two were ordered to pay P50,000 in civil indemnity, P50,000 in moral damage and P503,469.76 in actual damage.
In his judicial affidavit, Gatpandan claimed that he was in a car driven by Arroyo when the Toyota Innova of the victim overtook and clipped their vehicle.
“Consistent with the evidence, the testimonies of both accused established that they both went down from their vehicle and they both sought confrontation with the victim. Clearly, despite their denial, they ganged up on the victim and their attack ultimately caused the victim’s death,” the ruling read.
The court said no evidence was presented to justify the attack, saying it cannot consider “bare claims” that the first punch was made in self-defense.
The court said there was likewise no evidence that Tanchanco’s vehicle clipped Arroyo’s car or that the victim ”reached for something” before he was struck by Gatpandan.
“There is no evidence about this supposed firearm or any metal object at all that accused Gatpandan supposedly saw. Their self-serving claim... cannot overcome the burden to establish self-defense,” the court said.
The judge dismissed Arroyo’s claim that he was not involved in the attack, saying he was positively identified by both a prosecution witness and his co-accused.