Quiapo road rage suspect’s car recovered in Nueva Vizcaya

MANILA, Philippines – The vehicle of the suspect in a road rage incident in Quiapo, Manila, was recovered in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya on Thursday morning, reports said.

Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Chief Superintendent Antonio Gadiola said the red Hyundai Eon used by Army suspect Von Martin Tanto or "Vhon Tanto" was recovered by Task Force Limbas and HPG-Region 2 around 5 a.m., after they were tipped off about the vehicle’s presence in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.

Manila Police District Director Senior Superintendent. Joel Coronel said Tanto left his vehicle in the house of his brother-in-law, Jonathan Leano and told him that he needed to go somewhere.

In an Interaksyon report, Gadiola said Tanto boarded a Florida bus bound for Manila. Florida bus has two stops in Manila: Sampaloc in the City of Manila and Cubao in Quezon City.

“We got information that Tanto rode a Florida bus back to Manila after abandoning his car, but it doesn't mean he's back in Manila. He could have alighted at any point along the route of the Manila-bound bus,” Gadiola said in the report.

The authorities said Tanto’s vehicle was impounded and will be brought to Camp Crame for safekeeping and for further investigation. It was learned that the vehicle was registered under the name of a Taguig City resident.

Charges for Tanto, rewards for information

On Monday evening, cyclist Mark Vincent Garalde was killed while an 18-year-old girl, Rocel Bondoc, was injured after a driver believed to be Tanto argued with Garalde and engaged him in a fist fight. The fistfight ended with the man believed to be Tanto going into the car to get a gun and shooting Garalde repeatedly.

The incident was caught on CCTV.

MPD Homicide gave Tanto until Wednesday afternoon to surrender and has launched a manhunt for the reservist.

A report from the STAR said Tanto has been charged for Garalde's death and the MPD has recommended a reward for anyone who will turn the suspect over. —Rosette Adel

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