Road rage killer’s car found

MANILA, Philippines - The manhunt for the Army reservist who killed a bicycle rider in a road rage incident in Quiapo, Manila earlier this week led authorities to Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya where the suspect’s car was recovered yesterday morning.

However, combined elements of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, Regional Highway Patrol Unit, National Bureau of Investigation, La Union police, and Nueva Vizcaya police missed suspect Vhon Tanto who left his red Hyundai Eeon car with conduction sticker MO-3745 at the house of his brother-in-law Jonathan Leano.

The police team raided the house of Leano in Purok 3, Barangay Kitang around 5 a.m. and discovered Tanto’s car.

Senior Police Officer 2 Charles Duran said Tanto gunned down cyclist Mark Vincent Geralde after a traffic altercation in Quiapo last Monday.

Investigators said charges of murder and frustrated murder would be filed against Tanto who was caught on closed-circuit television camera killing Geralde after the two exchanged punches along P. Casal Street at 9:30 p.m.

The shooting incident also injured 18-year-old Rocel Bondoc, who was hit by a stray bullet outside the victim’s house. She is in critical condition at Mary Chiles Hospital.

Tanto, a resident of Fraternal corner Arlegui Streets in Quiapo, was last seen by neighbors near his house at noon last Wednesday.

Police said Tanto migrated to Manila from Cotabato City and engaged in a buy-and-sell business.

Tanto, who owns a licensed caliber .45 pistol and a caliber.40 Glock pistol, is an Army reservist with the rank of private and is detailed at a community defense center in Caloocan City.

Manila Police District (MPD) investigators said Tanto arrived in Nueva Vizcaya Tuesday night and left the car and key with Leano.

Sources said the police spotted the car and monitored the area, waiting for someone to drive it.

The source said Leano coordinated with the police after learning that the suspect is wanted for murder, but admitted that he brought Tanto to the Florida Bus terminal on Wednesday allegedly on his way to Manila or Bataan.

Nueva Vizcaya police director Senior Supt. Leumar Abugan said investigators have received information that Tanto’s car was spotted at Dalton Pass in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. ?

Abugan said they considered Leano a “person of interest” although the latter has assured police of full cooperation in locating Tanto.?

According to Abugan, Leano denied he had an idea of the case when his brother-in-law arrived in Aritao until he watched the television news.

Tanto left and took a Florida bus to Manila.

Leano said he believes Tanto will seek refuge in Mindanao. ?

Operatives of the PNP Highway Patrol Group drove Tanto’s car to Camp Crame, Quezon City.

National Capital Region Police Office director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said the recovery of the vehicle of the suspect would help in the solving the murder case.

HPG chief Senior Superintendent Gardiola said Leano would help in the investigation of the case.

A police official from the Northern Police District said investigators are also monitoring Tanto’s house in Tosillo Street in Caloocan City. The doors of the house have remained locked.

MPD director Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel said he discussed with former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada the possibility of putting up reward money for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Erap offers reward

Estrada later offered P100,000 reward to anybody who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of Tanto.

“To other witnesses, please come out and help the police authorities. We’re also asking the public’s cooperation for the immediate arrest of the suspect. Any information will be a big help to our law enforcers,” Estrada said.

Estrada admitted that traffic congestion and the bad condition of some streets not only in Manila but in the entire metropolis might have contributed to the road rage killing.

Police said the altercation started when Tanto’s car hit the bicycle of the victim Geralde, along the cramped street of P. Casal in Quiapo.

He said he personally knew Bondoc and in fact recommended her to the city-run university.

Bondoc, the student hit by a stray bullet during the incident, is recovering from surgery at Mary Chiles Hospital.

Dr. Domingo Reyes disclosed yesterday that the condition of Bondoc is improving.

Reyes said they have removed the bullet that penetrated the lower back of Bondoc and damaged her kidney.

From the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Bondoc will be transferred to a recovery room tomorrow.

Bondoc’s aunt, Rowena Dungca, said her niece has regained consciousness and could now communicate with them through hand signs.

Bondoc is an orphan and lives with the Dungcas on P. Casal Street in Quiapo, near the scene of the crime.

Dungca said they are worried about Rosell’s studies.

Bondoc is in her sophomore year and taking up Physical Therapy (PT) at the Universidad de Manila (UDM), where she is a city government scholar. With Jose Rodel Clapano, Ghio Ong, Raymund Catindig