Due to the lack of an arrest warrant, the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained on Thursday that there is no legal basis for them to detain Jose Antonio Sanvicente, the SUV driver involved in last week’s hit-and-run incident in Mandaluyong City.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo emphasized that an out-of-court settlement between both parties is outside the PNP’s jurisdiction.
“To inform the public, the PNP has no legal grounds to take into custody itong suspect considering na wala pa namang warrant of arrest na na-issue sa kanya. Hindi na po ito subject for warrantless arrest dahil there’s already a considerable lapse of time from the time na nangyari ‘yung insidente,” she said.
(To inform the public, the PNP has no legal grounds to take into custody this suspect, considering that no warrant of arrest has yet been issued to him. Furthermore, it is no longer subject to warrantless arrest because there’s already a considerable lapse of time from the time the incident occurred.)
Fajardo emphasized that despite the lack of an arrest warrant, Atty. Danilo Macalino had already pledged that suspect Jose Antonio Sanvicente would face the charges and respond to the allegations before a hearing on Friday, June 17.
Jose Antonio Sanvicente turned himself into the PNP on Wednesday and expressed regret to the victim, security guard Christian Joseph Floralde.
No legal basis to detain SUV driver Jose Antonio Sanvicente – PNP spox
Macalino asserted that the suspect struck Floralde with his car out of panic but did not attempt to help him.
Around 4 p.m. on June 6, Floralde was trying to control traffic at the intersection of Julia Vargas Avenue and St. Francis Street in Mandaluyong City when a white SUV struck him.
Sanvicente has been accused of frustrated murder and abandoning one’s own victim.
Jose Antonio Sanvicente has denied using drugs, but his attorney said he hasn’t yet suggested he take a drug test because the only charges against him are traffic-related.
On the other hand, Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr., the PNP officer in command, stated that since complaints have been made and the suspect has already turned himself in, the matter is now considered “solved.”
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