3 arrested for abandoning elderly woman under Manila bridge

Police in Manila on Friday said they have arrested the man who abandoned the elderly woman found under the MacArthur Bridge earlier this week.

According to the Manila Public Information Office on Facebook, the man was identified as Ephraim Tan Yap, 51, relative of the 76-year-old victim who was found abandoned on Wednesday.

Citing Yap, the Manila PIO said the victim, a widow, had been confined at the Metropolitan Medical Center for three weeks.

Yap was quoted as saying that charity centers refused to accept the victim despite a certificate declaring that she was an abandoned person.

Also arrested were one Emerita Decilio, allegedly Yap's accomplice, and Rogelio Espino, a tricycle driver.

The three were brought to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday afternoon.

It was found out that Yap approached Decilio to help him with the condition of his aunt.

Decilio claimed that she got hopeless as charity centers refused to accept the elderly woman so she just left her under the bridge. But, she said she took care of the old woman for four days.

"Kasi po hopeless na ko. Nagpunta po ako ng DSWD... hindi ko na po ano..." she said.

Yap, meanwhile, claimed that he did not know that his aunt was left under the bridge.

Moreno scolded the three individuals for what they had done to the elderly woman.

"Mayroon kayong kapabayaan... one, morally... Ang nanay, ang tatay, hindi tinatapon sa kalsada 'pag wala nang gamit," Moreno said.

"Hindi ninyo ginawa 'yun dahil gusto niyong tulungan, gusto niyong kumita. Nakakapanlambot kayo ng laman! Tatanda din kayo, tandaan ninyo 'yan... Magiging mahina din kayo. Magkakasakit tayo pare-pareho..." he said.

"Nakakapanlambot kayo ng laman... Aso nga kinukuha sa kalye, pusa nga kinukuha sa kalye. Tao pa?" Moreno said.

Manila Police District Special Mayor’s Reaction Team chief Rosalino Ibay Jr. said the suspects will face charges for violation of Article 275 of the Revised Penal Code or the “Abandonment of Persons in Danger and Abandonment of One’s Own Victim.”

The elderly woman, meanwhile, is currently under the care of the Manila Department of Social Welfare. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/AOL, GMA News