‘Overdue’ process

It was the most disheartening sight at the very least on how a wanted suspect in a hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City got played out before the public. What made it worse was the subliminal message it delivered on how certain kind of lawbreakers can get away with undeserved leniency. The last straw, so to speak, took place right in the press conference organized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame, Quezon City last Wednesday.

Without being handcuffed or wearing the usual orange T-shirt for the usual suspects presented at the PNP press conference, Jose Antonio Sanvicente Jr. finally came out from hiding after the hit-and-run incident on June 5. It took 10 days before Sanvicente bothered to man up for what he did. The suspect even brought along his parents to speak for and defend him.

Apparently coming from a poorly written script, the Sanvicente family arrived as PNP acting officer-in-charge Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. was winding down his press conference. Just the day before, a supposedly angry Danao raised his suspicion that the suspect might be using illegal drugs.

The next day, Danao was seen as a convivial host and even extended his hand to the mother of the suspect for the traditional “mano” (kissing the hand of elders). Well, there’s nothing wrong with being respectful. But respect for the law should be over and above other considerations such as the respect that is personal to him or by tradition of us Filipinos.

The suspect fled the scene after he ran over his victim, Christian Joseph Floralde, a security guard manning that busy corner of the nearby mall. Fortunately, a dash camera caught in video this incident that went viral. Good Samaritans took Floralde to the hospital. Thank God, the hit-and-run victim survived by stroke of luck.

“Sinuswerte si Sanvicente,” in a street language to best describe how the suspect seems luckier than his victim.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) acted far better and faster than the PNP when the video went viral. The LTO provided the details as to who owns the sports utility vehicle (SUV) while the suspect was still eluding authorities. Subsequently, the LTO suspended his driver’s license. It was only then police probers went to the house of the SUV owner. It was a Toyota RAV registered under the name of the suspect’s namesake father, Jose Antonio Sanvicente Sr., a resident in one of the posh subdivisions in Quezon City called Ayala Heights Village.

A sidebar to this story was the police accused security guards of denying them entry into this gated community. The Mandaluyong police filed last week charges of obstruction of justice against the lowly paid security guards before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office. Isn’t it that the PNP accredits security guards as their force multipliers?

Trying to squeeze out of the public uproar over these obvious “special treatment” on this suspect, both the PNP and the lawyer of Sanvicente vehemently denied public perceptions it stirred. The PNP and Sanvicente’s lawyers even chorused in arguing the accused suspect voluntarily surrendered and has not been charged yet of any offense. Hence, the suspect did not even bother to show up in the preliminary investigation upon advice of his lawyer.

But the poor victim who was visibly wobbly several days after the incident showed up. He had to be assisted to go up to the fiscal’s office in Mandaluyong City last Friday to personally swear upon to his affidavit. If not for that dash cam video, Sanvicente could have gotten off the hook for frustrated homicide through reckless imprudence.

From LTO records, however, it was established that the suspect has a road behavior history of “reckless driving.” He was apprehended thrice in the past. The preliminary investigation in his latest case was reset to June 23 to give him time to submit his counter-affidavit. Very clearly from his own public apology to his victim during the press conference at the PNP, Sanvicente already admitted he was the one driving the SUV that ran over his victim.

Over the weekend, the PNP announced they will use video of this controversial press conference as additional evidence against Sanvicente. The funny part of this entire incident was Danao’s declaring “case closed” as his takeaway statement to media. Phew!

How the PNP treated this incident speaks volume. Is this how the PNP do their job despite the full support they have gotten from the administration of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte?

Fortunately, we still have public officials who never waver in their staunch advocacy for law and order. Senate President Vicente Sotto III did not mince words in calling out the PNP leadership for not being thorough enough in investigating the case of Sanvicente that could have led to his immediate arrest and detention. Even if he ran but lost in the last vice presidential elections, Sotto is still an incumbent Senator until his second and last term in office. A known anti-drug advocate like President Duterte, Sotto is stepping down on the same day their terms end this June 30.

In his personal Twitter account, Sotto could not hide his exasperation why the PNP did not immediately subject Sanvicente to a drug test given after Danao loosely raised such suspicions. “PNP says they followed rules? Really? Bakit hindi nyo subject to drug test? RA 10586 says so! P!&@P:/¥%#.” Sotto referred to the law he co-authored that penalizes those driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs, and other banned substances.

The police as law enforcement arm of the government is one of the five pillars of the criminal justice system in our country. The four others are, namely, the prosecution service; the courts or judiciary; the penal and rehabilitation system; and, the people/public support.

While indeed due process of the law must be observed, we can ill afford any weakness in the ramparts of our criminal justice system. Justice delayed is justice denied because we have so much “overdue” process.