SUV driver who hit then ran over guard yields to PNP
THE SUV driver who hit, and then ran over a security guard in Ortigas Area two weeks ago has surfaced with his lawyer, to apologize and to stress that he does not use illegal drugs.
Jose Antonio Sanvicente, asked categorically if he uses drugs, replied to reporters at a televised press conference, “Hindi. Hindi ako gumagamit [No, I don’t use illegal drugs],” but his lawyer could not categorically state that he will undergo a drug test. He said they were not prepared to give a drug test advice.
Jose Antonio’s mother, also replying to reporters, recalled sleepless nights, insisting that “mabait ang anak ko. Nagtatrabaho siya [My son is a good man. He has a job]. He’s a very responsible man,” adding that it was purely an accident and that “he was rattled” so he sped away, after hitting, and then running over guard Christian Floralde, who was helping direct traffic at the busy mall area in Pasig City. The guard has been discharged from hospital, but needs to undergo further tests because he suffered internal bleeding after his upper torso was crushed by the RAV 4.
Sanvicente’s mother said she became fearful when Acting PNP chief Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. issued an all-points bulletin, so they decided to surrender her son, on whom the Department of Justice issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) to make sure he does not leave the country.
His father, Joel Sanvicente, said several police cars showed up at his house the day after the incident, and he told them the address was right, but the car—a white SUV with the plate number NCO 3781— was registered in Jose Antonio’s name. Joel said he bought it as a gift for his son.
The elder Sanvicente stressed that “lahat pong klaseng tulong na kelangan nung nasaktan, na ang cause niyan ay aksidente, willing po kaming tumulong [We are ready to help finance the costs of all treatment for injuries caused by the accident].”
Danao said that with the suspect having turned himself in to authorities, “We consider the case closed” and will leave it up to the prosecutors to pursue the case. They earlier filed a case of abandonment of victim and frustrated murder against Sanvicente, because of his act of deliberately running over the guard, even as he lay on the ground after being hit by the SUV.