Murder charges filed vs Antipolo road rage shooter

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines —  Police yesterday filed an amended complaint against the shooter in the Antipolo road rage incident that resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider. Instead of multiple frustrated homicide, Kenneth Bautista, 28, was charged with murder and two counts of frustrated murder as well as violation of the Omnibus Election Code and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act before the Office of the City Prosecutor.

The amendment from homicide to murder came after one of the wounded riders shot by Bautista died while being treated in a hospital a day after the incident occurred along Marcos Highway in Barangay San Jose on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Ryan Manongdo, Antipolo police chief, said the decision to file a case for murder instead of homicide was based on the extent of the wounds suffered by the victim.

“The fatality also had a gunshot wound in the back,” he said.

Manongdo said it is up to the Office of the City Prosecutor to decide the charge to be filed in court against Bautista.

Police said the case is considered solved with the arrest and filing of charges against the shooter.

Three of the wounded victims including Bautista’s partner have been discharged from the Cabading and Rodriguez Hospital where they were rushed after the incident.

Bautista and his family were in a sport utility vehicle when they figured in a quarrel with the riders.

Videos shared on social media showed Bautista in a fistfight with the riders before he drew a gun.

The incident prompted the anti-crime watchdog Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to call for intensified police visibility and checkpoints that will inspect not only motorcycle riders but also passengers of four-wheeled vehicles.

VACC president Arsenio Evangelista said the presence of police officers in the streets and at checkpoints would dissuade gun owners from bringing or using firearms, especially with the nationwide gun ban in effect.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil on Monday ordered the deployment of Highway Patrol Group personnel who will accompany police officers in manning checkpoints.

Marbil said that inspection of four-wheeled vehicles would be done randomly so as not to cause traffic.     –  Emmanuel Tupas