Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) — A man died after being pinned and run over by a trailer truck in Tondo, Manila on Thursday in what’s believed to be another case of road rage, authorities said.
Surveillance footage showed the victim, Benjamin Bagtas, getting out of his van along Mel Lopez Boulevard when a truck picked up speed and turned right—crushing and dragging him.
The Manila Police District identified the suspect as Marlon Ilas, who denied intending to hit Bagtas. He fled the scene after the incident but has since been arrested.
Bagtas was rushed to a nearby hospital but later died.
According to the victim’s companion, there was tension between Ilas and Bagtas that started when they were along C-3 road in Navotas.
\”Pagdating namin ng stoplight, naunahan namin siya. Huminto ‘yung driver (Bagtas)…Hininto para kausapin sana ‘yung trailer, bigla siyang sinalpok. Ginanun siya, cinut siya na nandun siya nakatayo. Kaya tumilapon siya. Di lang ‘yun, kinaladkad siya,\” said Bernardino Corpuz, who was with Bagtas when the incident happened.
\”Sadya talaga kasi…alam na niyang may tao pero bakit niya niliko yung truck?\” he added.
[Translation: When we reached the stoplight, we drove ahead of the suspect. Bagtas stopped to talk to the driver of the trailer truck, but the driver hit him. Bagtas was standing at the time, so the impact threw him from his place. Not only that, he was also dragged. It was really intentional because the driver already knows there was a person there, but he still turned right.]
The suspect refused to further comment on the incident, but he asked for forgiveness from Bagtas’ family. The family, however, said an apology isn’t enough.
The trucking company’s representative said they won’t tolerate what their driver did and vowed to provide assistance to the victim’s family.
Ilas will remain behind bars and will face murder charges.
