Image from PTV-4’s Facebook page - Manila police promised to catch army reservist who shot cyclist dead
- They have considered him armed and dangerous, said he has three firearms
- Army also vowed to help catch the road rage suspect
MANILA, Philippines – Amid public outcry over the needless death of a road rage victim, police vow to apprehend the suspect responsible for his death “dead or alive”.
“The full strength of the Manila Police District will go after him,” MPD acting director Sr. Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel told GMA News. “Dead or alive, we want him.”
Coronel was referring to Vhon Tanto, the prime suspect who shot dead Mark Vincent Garalde after the two figured in a fistfight in Quiapo, Manila Monday evening, July 25.
A CCTV footage recorded their fight and the subsequent shooting, with Tanto firing at Garalde point-blank range five times before speeding off.
He was identified after authorities were able to trace his red Hyundai Eon with conduction sticker MO-3745 back to him and to his Facebook account. Eyewitnesses who saw his pictures positively tagged him as the shooter.
The shooting also injured 18-year-old Rocel Bondoc, a student of the Universidad de Manila. He remains in critical condition according to Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.
Police who are hunting down Tanto have described him as “armed and dangerous”.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army also pledged to help catch Tanto, a reservist attached to its Army Reserve Command’s 1301st Community Defense Center, National Capital Regional Community Defense Group in Caloocan City.
“Rest assured that the Philippine Army will cooperate with all investigating bodies regarding the case,” Army chief. Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año. “Appropriate sanctions will be imposed as the Army does not tolerate this kind of action.”
The incident also sparked a firestorm online after Top Gear Philippines mistakenly tagged the wrong suspect as the shooter. Its editor-in-chief has since apologized for the error.
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