Charles Teves
The mother of the Toyota RAV4 driver who knocked down and drove over a security guard in Mandaluyong City is now worried that the incident may negatively impact her son’s life.
Shortly after Jose Antonio Sanvicente surrendered to authorities, his mother was asked how the family felt about the infraction caught on a dashboard cam.
She said the family has been losing sleep and appetite over the incident, arguing that what happened was purely an accident.
“Syempre, hindi ho kami makatulog, hindi kami makakain, syempre anak namin ‘yong involved, saka nag-viral na eh ‘di ba. Masisira na ‘yong buhay ng anak ko, for any parent ba gano’n ang gusto niyo sa anak niyo?” she said during a briefing in Camp Crame.
“Mabait ‘yong anak ko, ano, nagta-trabaho siya, he’s a very responsible man. And I think ito, aksidente naman talaga ‘to, lumaki lang nang lumaki. And I feel so sad kasi ano na mangyayari sa future ng anak ko ‘di ba?” she added.
She said her son became confused when the car “accidentally” collided with the security who was directing traffic.
“Maayos ang anak ko, sino bang may gusto na takbuhan ‘yon, syempre na-rattle na rin siya eh,” she reasoned.
Like the authorities, the public had also waited for Sanvicente to surrender. However, they disagree with the mother’s argument that her son was “rattled.”
Fact: Tinakbuhan niya iyon nasagasaan niya. Malinaw sa video. https://t.co/G6hh2DuL29
— Barnaby Lo 吳宗鴻 (@barnabychuck) June 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/pcnsnji/status/1536946237911445504?s=20&t=rNbOjr3ntl1kU794z50eNw
The suspect didn’t say much. Aside from that, people were surprised that a press conference was held.
A wise man once asked, “Ganun-ganon na lang yon?!” pic.twitter.com/tKpWoAEOmz
— Christopher Lao 劉文良 (@iamchrislao) June 15, 2022
Anton San Vicente. He surrendered after more than a week. He brought his parents with him. He was given a press con. Wow.
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) June 15, 2022
Rich suspects getting media mileage and press attention while poor suspects either get jailed or killed.
Justice is only for the rich.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) June 15, 2022
The Sanvicente family appears privileged enough that netizens think the driver could be forgiven.
Example of what happens when your name isn't Jose Antonio San Vicente. https://t.co/rDWkbnnsm5 pic.twitter.com/2i1rpqQTvS
— sa islang panopticon (@goodkidbikecity) June 15, 2022
Your son was apprehended for reckless driving thrice before he ran over a security guard, so don't make excuses for him. The poor are regularly accused of being bad parents. But THIS is what bad parenting looks like. https://t.co/PxJ0sbKVVy
— Sharmila Parmanand (@shaaarmila) June 15, 2022
Sanvicente’s lawyers and parents accompanied him to Camp Crame following orders from the authorities to give himself up.
Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. called out the driver last Monday and asked if he does illegal drugs because he did not mirror the behavior of a normal individual.
“Kasi naglabas na si General Danao ng what’s that, ‘yong sa news? Natakot na talaga ako. Then I said gawin na natin, we have to go to General Danao already, at d’yan na kami mag-surrender, magpakita,” the mother furthered.
Sanvicente is currently facing charges of frustrated murder and abandonment of the victim. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also revoked his driver’s license.
Sanvicente’s lawyer Danny Macalino apologized for his client’s actions. He admitted that Sanvicente drove the car that badly injured the security guard last June 5.
“Hindi naman under pressure but I think the proper remedy is kailangan magpakita siya to diffuse the public perception na nagtatago siya, at saka para ma-interview namin siya personally kung ano’ng nangyari,” the lawyer said.
“You cannot defend a person in his absence, you cannot. Kailangan malaman namin ang katotohanan. Ang katotohanan will set you free, ‘di ba,” he added.
