PNP: No special treatment for SUV owner in hit-and-run

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has insisted it is not giving special treatment to the owner of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that figured in a hit-and-run in Mandaluyong City last week.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo gave the assurance after she was asked during an interview over Teleradyo on Friday night whether the SUV owner is receiving special treatment from the police, unlike ordinary drivers involved in other vehicular accidents who are immediately arrested.

Fajardo explained the registered owner of the SUV, whom she earlier identified as Jose Antonio San Vicente Sr., was no longer invited for questioning as cases have been filed against him before the Mandaluyong prosecutor’s office.

“As a matter of procedure, he will be sent summons from the prosecutor’s office. He can answer the charges in the form of a counter-affidavit,” Fajardo, who is also a lawyer, said.

The Mandaluyong police filed charges of frustrated murder and abandonment of one’s own victim in violation of Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code against San Vicente.

The charges are in connection with the incident wherein security guard Christian Floralde, who was then directing traffic at an intersection, was hit by San Vicente’s SUV.

Instead of stopping, the driver ran over Floralde and fled from the scene. The incident was caught in a dashcam video that was posted on Facebook.

Fajardo pointed out the police acted quickly and went to Ayala Heights Subdivision, where San Vicente resides, for a hot pursuit operation.

“They were hindered and prohibited from entering the subdivision,” she said.

Police filed charges of obstruction of justice against three security guards of the subdivision.