MMDA constables: Dela Riarte was rude
The two constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who helped arrest slain motorcyclist John dela Riarte yesterday insisted the victim had it coming.
MMDA constables Bayani Batac III and Jeslie Manlangit said Dela Riarte was rude in confronting the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) policemen who accosted him following a traffic accident.
Dela Riarte was hand-cuffed behind his back when he was shot dead by the HPG men in a police car. A video showed him being punched by the arresting team.
The two MMDA constables submitted their sworn statements before the National Bureau of Investigation ( NBI) probing the incident.
They said HPG officers Police Officer 3 Jeremiah de Villa and PO2 Jonjie Manon-og tried to question Dela Riarte about the accident when the victim suddenly became rowdy.
Dela Riarte was on his motorcycle when he accidentally bumped the Mitsubishi car driven by Eric Fajardo. The accident took place along EDSA in Makati City on Friday last week.
In their joint sworn statement, the two MMDA constables claimed Dela Riarte even tried to attack Fajardo, prompting the two HPG men to intervene.
Batac, on the other hand, said he approached Fajardo and his wife and told them not to get out of their car and capture the arrest on video.
He said Dela Riarte suddenly shouted to De Villa, “Give me a gun and I will shoot him.”
Batac said Dela Riarte attempted to grab De Villa’s gun from his holster, prompting Manlangit to shove the victim.
The MMDA traffic aides then hugged the victim to prevent him from going wild.
Another HPG member handcuffed Dela Riarte, with his hands at his back.
The joint affidavit also disclosed Dela Riarte allegedly hurled invectives at the arresting officers and at Fajardo’s wife.
The arresting officers brought Dela Riarte to the sidewalk to check if he had any deadly weapon.
Manon-og then brought Dela Riarte to the patrol car to bring him to Camp Crame, while Batac and Manlangit attended to Dela Riarte’s motorcycle. Moment later, Dela Riarte was dead.