Outgoing Senate President Vicente C. Sotto on Monday, June 13 slammed the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its kids’ gloves treatment of an SUV driver who recently ran over a security guard while manning traffic in Mandaluyong City.
Sotto said the failure of the PNP to arrest the driver show an apparent police incompetence.
The driver, identified only as a ‘’Mr. San Vicente,’’ remained on the lam.
Sotto said what the driver of the white Toyota RAV 4 did was life threatening.
"Kitang-kita na merong violation na ginawa (It was very obvious there was a violation done)...very dangerous. It could even lead to frustrated murder, hindi ba? Hindi lang homicide kung namatay (It's not just homicide had the victim died," Sotto pointed out.
"So, dapat yun, inaaresto, hindi iniimbita. Identified na nila eh (He should have been arrested, not invited. They already identified him). So what’s wrong?
"Yan ang sinasabi ko rito, di ba (That's what I am saying, right)? Instead of inviting, instead of asking attendance, or expecting them to attend, there should be an order of arrest. Ganun ang thinking ko. Blatant, kitang-kita, sobra (That's how I perceive it. It was blatant violation). A good driver will not do that. Yun lang aso o kaya pusa, iiwasan mo, di ba? Ito, tao eh. Anong klase yun? (We even avoid hitting a dog or kitten. But here we have a person who was hurt. What kind of person is that?) Why are we using kid’s gloves? That’s my point)," the Senate leader added.
The Senate chief said this is not a good sign that might prompt people to think that the it is alright to run over a person.
Police have gone to an exclusive subdivision in Quezon city where the driver of the vehicle was reported residing but have not reportedly found him.
Police Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. — PNP officer-in-charge until a new chief is named — said that the man they identified only as Mr. "San Vicente" already had a previous traffic infraction for reckless imprudence on record.
Danao said the refusal of ‘’Mr, San Vicente’’ to surrender or explain his side meant that he could be guilty.
‘’I'm challenging you, Mr. San Vicente, you don't want to surrender, fine. I have one t"The possibility is you're guilty. Why don't you want to surrender? I'm challenging you, Mr. San Vicente, you don't want to surrender, fine. I have one thing to say to you: maybe you're an addict...no person in his right senses will do that,’’ Danao said.
Danao also called on the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to revoke the license of the suspect to minimize the risk of additional danger to more people.
`He said the PNP is wait ing for an arrest warrant for him as it has filed criminal charges against him.