Valenzuela road rage SUV driver appears, surrenders gun

The SUV driver who allegedly threatened a taxi driver in a road rage and gun-toting incident in Valenzuela City surfaced to surrender his pistol to authorities, Mayor Wes Gatchalian announced Tuesday.

Gatchalian said businessman Marlon Malabute voluntarily turned over his gun to the Mayor’s Office after the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) revoked his permits over the viral road altercation.

“Today, September 12, the suspect, Marlon Malabute, physically surrendered his firearms to the Mayor’s Office and likewise, we turned it over to the custody of the VCPD [Valenzuela City Police District],” the mayor told reporters in a media briefing.

“The firearm is already in the custody of the VCPD and is subject to ballistic examination in Crame. Unfortunately, the vehicle that was in the video, di pa na-turnover as of the moment sa LTO [Land Transportation Office] … We will await the report from the LTO kung ano ang mangyayari sa sasakyan,” he said.

(The firearm is already in the custody of the VCPD and is subject to ballistic examination in Crame. Unfortunately, the vehicle that was in the video hasn't been turned over, as of the moment, to the [Land Transportation Office] … We will wait for the LTO's report on what is to happen to the vehicle.)

Malabute and his legal counsel, Atty. Elisa Barquez, were present during the press briefing.

Asked if he planned to settle the case with victim Henry Ong, the Malabute declined to comment and said he would give his version of the incident before the court.

The SUV driver is facing grave threat and alarm and scandal complaints. 

In a video taken on August 19, Malabute allegedly pulled out, cocked a gun, and pushed the taxi driver Ong at around 1:22 am.

The police identified the SUV driver through information from the original and second owner of the concerned SUV.

Last week, Ong positively identified Malabute as the person who threatened him during the altercation.

The police conducted operations in Caloocan City and Manila to capture Malabute but they were not able to find him in the addresses that were given to them.

The VCPD said they were able to locate him through a backtracking investigation.

“Lumabas sa investigation natin na sya yung huling nagmamay-ari nung fortuner. Agad nating siyang ni-locate. 'Yung address is yung sa binilhan niya ng sasakyan at ito ang naging result,” said VCPD Deputy Chief Police Major Randy Landeral.

(Our investigation showed he was the last owner of the vehicle. We located him at the address where he bought the car.)

Meanwhile, Gatchalian reiterated the city government had taken steps to prevent a repeat of the incident. He said they allocated more than P300 million to put up over 1,500 new LED streetlights, and at least 250 CCTV cameras on secondary roads in Valenzuela City.

The city government also requested the VCPD to add more checkpoints and increase police visibility in critical areas. — DVM, GMA Integrated News