MANILA, Philippines - A man was arrested yesterday for allegedly cutting into a Presidential Security Group (PSG) convoy in Manila Wednesday night.
Superintendent Luis Francisco Jr., Pandacan police station commander, said motorist Marc Jason Hanopol, 24, a medical representative, was charged with reckless driving and obstruction and driving under the influence of liquor. He is being held at the police station.
According to a police report, Hanopol, driving a Kia Rio (XMM-769), cut into the PSG convoy at the Nagtahan Bridge and swerved behind the lead vehicle at around 11:35 p.m.
Senior Police Officers 1 Emmanuel de Jesus and Albert Barit stopped Hanopol, asked him to present his driver’s license and checked his vehicle. Barit noticed Hanopol seemed to be drunk. He tested positive for alcohol at the Ospital ng Maynila.
Meanwhile, Malacañang said brushed aside yesterday insinuations that President Aquino may have been partying until dawn yesterday, following the arrest of Hanopol.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino was still in the Palace “on or before midnight” and that Hanopol was turned over to police at 2 a.m.
He could not categorically say, however, whether Aquino was in the PSG convoy when it got involved with Hanopol, who was found to be driving under the influence of liquor. – Sandy Araneta, Delon Porcalla