Quiapo road rage suspect nabbed in Masbate

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 4 4:21 p.m.) — The Army reservist who allegedly shot dead a cyclist in Quiapo, Manila after a road altercation has been arrested by authorities on Friday.

Vhon Martin Tanto was nabbed in his home in Barangay Poblacion East in Milagros, Masbate around 11:50 a.m. by a combined team of Army intelligence personnel, cops and local Army members, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Armed Forces Public Affairs Office, said Tanto was turned over to Masbate police before being handed over to the Manila Police District.

"According to reports coming from apprehending personnel, Tanto did not resist arrest and peacefully joined  the team that accosted him," Arevalo said in a statement.

Arevalo said the Army took interest in the case and assisted the police when it learned of Tanto's background as a reservist.

"Per verification, however, it surfaced that [Tanto] is in 'inactive' status and has been virtually delisted from the rolls for failure to report to his unit since December 2015," Arevalo said.

Earlier on Friday, the Philippine National Police announced that it has revoked the firearm license of Tanto, who has two registered handguns with the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).

FEO chief Senior Superintendent Cesar Binay said Tanto has been ordered to turn over all of his firearms to the nearest police office immediately upon receipt of notice. The police sent the revocation order to his house on Thursday

"Ang pagkakaroon ng baril ay isang pribilehiyo, hindi ito isang karapatan so anytime the government, of course provided by law, we can revoke the licenses that we issued to gunholders," Binag said at a televised press conference

Based on the CCTV footage, Garalde and the suspect later came to blows for more than a minute until Garalde managed to headlock the suspect.

The victim released the suspect, walked toward his bike beside the car and peered into the passenger side window of the vehicle as if talking to someone.

As Garalde walked away with his bicycle, the suspect—now carrying a gun—got out of his car and walked casually toward the biker.

Authorities recovered the abandoned vehicle used by the Quiapo road rage suspect Vhon Tanto in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya and was brought to the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame on Thursday, July 28, for further examination. PNP PIO/Released

READ: Manhunt on for biker killer in Quiapo road rage

The man shot him once in the head and fired four more shots at the victim when he was already slumped on the pavement. The suspect sped away towards Ayala Bridge.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has put up a P100,000 bounty for the arrest of Tanto, who allegedly pulled the trigger on cyclist Mark Vincent Garalde along the southbound lane of P. Casal on Monday night.

Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan then offered another P100,000 in bounty for the suspect's capture. — With a report by Patricia Viray; Based on an initial report by Rey Galupo