Three suspects, who abandoned an elderly woman on the side of a road under MacArthur Bridge in Manila, were arrested by police.
Police identified the suspects as Ephraim Tan Yap, 51, resident of Binondo, Manila (nephew of the victim Fulgencia Tan); Emerita Decilio, 60, sampaguita vendor, resident of Tondo, Manila; and Rogelio Espino, 53, tricycle driver, resident of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Elements of the Manila Police District-Special Mayor's Reaction Team (MPD-SMaRT) first nabbed Espino Wednesday afternoon after tracing his whereabouts using closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
Decilio was collared a few hours after, while Yap was arrested Friday morning.
Yap told the police that Tan, who has been confined at Metropolitan Medical Center for three weeks before the incident, was left in his care after his wife died.
After deciding that he wanted to abandon his aunt, he sought help from Decilio, who is allegedly known for bringing scavengers to shelters. He asked her to bring Tan to a Missionary of Charity branch in Manila.
"Lumapit po ako kay Emie, pagtapos po noon, pumunta kami ng barangay para sa certification na inaabandona ko na ang auntie ko. Kaya humingi po ako ng tulong para maipadala sa mga center (I approached Emie, and after that, we went to the barangay to ask for certification that I am now abandoning my aunt. That is why I sought help so she can be brought to a center)," Yap said.
However, no centers wanted to accept Tan, the suspects said. Out of desperation, Decilio rented Espino's tricycle and abandoned the elderly woman under MacArthur Bridge.
"Wala pong tumanggap sa'min kaya desperado na po ako. Aaminin ko po, iniwan ko po (No one would accept us that's why I became desperate. I admit it, I abandoned her)," she said.
Yap claimed that he did not know what happened to his aunt after entrusting her to Decilio. But the sampaguita vendor said she told Yap that no one wanted to accept Tan, but he was firm that he did not want her returned to his custody.
Tan was rescued by the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) after receiving reports from Filipinos online.
She was immediately brought in for a medical checkup and is currently staying at one of the city government's shelters.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, who received the suspects in his office, flared up and accused them of trying to profit off Tan's weakness.
"Ang nanay, ang tatay, hindi tinatapon sa kalsada pag wala nang gamit. Nasaan ang puso niyo? (Mothers and fathers are not to be thrown out in the street when they are no longer of any use. Why are you being heartless?)” he said.
"Puro takbo DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) kasi nand'on 'yung pera (All they know is to run to DSWD because that's where the money is)," he added.
"Kaya lang naman kayo nagsama-sama dahil sa pera, eh. Hindi niyo ginawa 'yon dahil gusto niyo tulungan, gusto niyo lang kumita (You only came together because of money. You did not do that because you wanted to help, you just wanted to earn)," he angrily said.
The suspects, who are now under police custody, will be facing charges for violation of Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code or the Abandonment of Persons in Danger.