THE owner of the sports utility vehicle that recently rammed and injured a security guard in Mandaluyong City had a previous case for reckless imprudence, according to PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.
“He had a similar case (in the past). Take note, this is not the first time that he has a case of reckless imprudence,” Danao said yesterday, citing information from the Land Transportation Office.
The owner of the Toyota Rav4 that ran over Christian Floralde has been identified in social media as Antonio San Vicente Sr. Floralde was hit by the SUV while directing traffic last June 5 at the intersection of J. Vargas and Saint Francis Streets in Barangay Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City.
The incident was caught on video that has gone viral.
Police have filed charges for frustrated murder and abandonment of person in danger and abandonment of one’s own victim before the Mandaluyong Prosecutors Office. The charges were filed based on the assumption that San Vicente was the driver, he being the registered owner of the vehicle.
Police investigation later disclosed the SUV was actually driven by his son, Antonio San Vicente Jr. Police said they will include the son in the case.
Danao said LTO officials should have suspended the license of San Vicente Sr. after the first case.
“With the second case, his license should not only be suspended. His license should be revoked. Why? Driver’s license is only a privilege, it’s not your right (to have a driver’s license). If you abuse it, definitely it should be revoked,” said Danao.
Danao said he is not aware of the details of the first case “but based on what I heard, he was already charged for a similar case, so he is a recidivist.”
He urged the owner to surrender to authorities but admitted there is still no warrant of arrest issued against him.
“We have already identified the owner of the SUV, the one who rammed the (traffic enforcer) and unfortunately, the owner, take note, the owner of the vehicle refused to surrender,” said Danao.
“The question is why he refuses to surrender. I am challenging you Mr. Vicente (to surrender). You refuse to surrender, right? That only means one thing, are you (an) addict?” he said.
“You might be a drug addict, that’s why you do not want to surrender,” Danao added.
