DOJ indicts Quiapo road rage suspect for murder

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on has found probable cause to indict former Army reservist Vhon Martin Tanto for the death of a cyclist, and for injuring a bystander in a road rage incident in Manila on July 25.

In an 8-page resolution released on Tuesday, September 6, the investigating prosecutors recommended the filing of murder and physical injury charges against Tanto, based on the testimonies submitted by witnesses.

Tanto shot cyclist Mark Vincent Garalde during a road altercation in July, while a stray bullet hit 18-year-old student Rossel Bondoc during the incident.

Prosecutor General Claro Arellano  said the case would be filed against Tanto before the Manila City regional trial court this week.

In the resolution, Assistant State Prosecutors Jeannette Dacpano and Robert Ong Jr said that they “find the evidence adduced by the complainant together with the extrajudicial admission made by the respondent during the inquest proceeding and public, thru the media, that he shot the victim Geralde and involuntarily injuring victim Bondoc, as sufficient to show probable cause that respondent is probably guilty for murder and serious physical injury.”

The prosecutors also gave weight to the eyewitness testimony of Bryan Yu, who saw Tanto shooting Garalde 4 times at close range after their fist fight, as well as the CCTV recording of the incident.

The DOJ held that treachery – a key element of murder – was present in the case since Garalde was already walking away from Tanto, his back turned to the latter, when Tanto shot him.

The victim “was not afforded any chance to defend himself when he was shot four times,” the investigators said.

The “execution of the crime was directly and specifically for ensured by respondent without risk to himself from the defense that the victim might make,” they added.

They also cited Tanto’s attempt to hide after the incident. (READ: Quiapo road rage suspect arrested in Masbate)

“In criminal law, flight means the act of evading the course of justice by voluntarily withdrawing one’s self to avoid arrest of detention or the institution or continuance of criminal proceedings. Flight, in jurisprudence, has always been strong indication of guilt,” they said.

The prosecutors said they downgraded the charge in relation to Bondoc’s case to serious physical injury from frustrated murder, as there was no intention to kill her.

Tanto had earlier that that he has no intention to kill Garalde but his anger blinded him when the cyclist reportedly became arrogant during the incident. (READ: Quiapo road rage suspect: ‘Sorry po talaga) – Rappler.com