Murder charges to be filed vs. Antipolo road rage driver after rider’s death

Metro Manila, Philippines - Murder charges will be filed against the suspect in the viral road rage shooting in Antipolo, Rizal after one of the victims died, the Antipolo police said.

Authorities said the 52-year-old victim, who sustained gunshot wounds to his head, died on Monday night, March 31.

The police had earlier filed three counts of frustrated homicide complaints against the 28-year-old driver.

“I-amend namin siya upon the availability of the death certificate bukas…i-elevate po natin siya into murder case,” PltCol Ryan Manongdo, acting Antipolo police chief, said in an interview.

[Translation: We will amend it upon the availability of the death certificate tomorrow…We will elevate it into a murder case]

Manongdo said the rest of the injured are now in stable condition.

On Sunday, a driver of a sports utility vehicle was caught firing at motorcycle riders after a scuffle along Marcos Highway.

“Medyo nagmamadali. So muntik niya pong mabangga ito pong victim natin at nagkaroon ng additional na gitgitan so hanggang sa blinock na nila, nag-stop siya doon tapos bumaba ang ating suspek,” Manongdo said.

[The suspect was in a rush. So he almost hit the victim and there was an additional scuffle until the rider blocked his way and the suspect stopped and got out of his car]

In the viral video, the driver and rider, who was with his son, engaged in a fistfight before the shots were fired.

The Antipolo police said the suspect tried to escape but he was eventually apprehended after a hot pursuit operation.

Meanwhile, authorities downplayed claims of self-defense, which supposedly caused the incident.

“Paano magiging self-defense na siya ang lumabas? Kung self defense iyon siguro baka hinatak siya from his sasakyan. Pero lumabas po kasi siya. He confronted them,” Manongdo said.

[Translation: How come it’s self defense when he was the one who got out of the vehicle? It may be self defense if the riders dragged him out of his car. But he got out and confronted them]

NewsWatch Plus sought comment from the suspect but has refused to give further statements.