Charges filed vs P’sinan road rage killer

ROSALES, Pangasinan, Philippines - – Police have filed charges of murder and attempted murder against a Caloocan City businessman who shot dead a bus driver and wounded his conductor in a fit of road rage at the boundary of this town and San Manuel, Tarlac last Saturday. 

Chief Inspector Randy Arellano, Rosales police chief here, told The STAR that the case against Frederick de la Cruz was filed with the prosecutor’s office here on Monday.

Contrary to earlier reports, police said De la Cruz was not arrested and a manhunt has been launched against him.

After the shooting, De la Cruz drove his Ford pick-up toward San Manuel town and abandoned his wife Ma. Catherine and three children, all minors, who police found crying.

De la Cruz allegedly shot dead Joseph Villacorta, driver of a Solid North bus with license plate NIR 878, in the chest, and wounded the conductor, Melvin Intial, 23.

Arellano said Intial would stand as witness against De la Cruz.

Police could not still determine the caliber of the gun used by De la Cruz, as there was no slug or empty shell recovered at the crime scene.

Arellano said they were still waiting for the findings of scene of the crime operatives. 

Reports said the bus hit De la Cruz’s vehicle, shattering a side mirror. This angered the businessman, and he retaliated by stoning a side mirror of the bus. A verbal tussle ensued, leading to the shooting.

Arellano said Villacorta’s family is bent on pursuing the charges against De la Cruz.