Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16) – The SUV driver who ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City could not be arrested after his press conference on Wednesday when he surrendered to authorities and went public for the first time.
Philippine National Police spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo explained on Thursday that there was no warrant of arrest which would place Jose Antonio Sanvicente under police custody.
“He is not considered a wanted felon,” Fajardo told CNN Philippines’ Traffic Center.
Fajardo added the hot pursuit doctrine, which empowers the police to conduct warrantless arrest, is not applicable to Sanvicente’s case. The proposal to use the doctrine was suggested by former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te in a tweet.
“The hot pursuit doctrine does not apply in this case because there is already a considerable lapse of time. We will have to follow the legal process and a case has already been filed. Let the court decide whether there is a probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest against him,” said Fajardo.
Fajardo also clarified that Sanvicente is not connected to any police officer and it was his parents who called up the PNP for his surrender for his safety.
“It was the parents of Anton (Sanvicente) who initiated and contacted our OIC (officer-in-charge) so that he can surface himself because there is a strong clamor for him to surface,” she said.
The PNP spokesperson said there will be no special treatment for Sanvicente as they intend to file a hold departure order to prevent him from evading authorities by fleeing the country.
Sanvicente and his parents appeared before the PNP and media in a press conference at Camp Crame, where he apologized to his victim Christian Floralde.
Floralde, who suffered serious injuries from the June 5 incident accepted the apology of Sanvicente but insisted that he will pursue the case against the 34-year-old driver.
The Land Transportation Office has revoked the driver’s license of Sanvicente and the Department of Justice issued an immigration lookout bulletin against him.
