Police say pick-up truck driver apologized for hurting man pushing cart

Police said the driver of a pickup truck who was shown in a viral video having an angry altercation in Barangay San Roque in Antipolo City already apologized for hurting the man pushing a cart that he was arguing with.

According to Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, the man was seen cursing at the other man in the video and even hit him on the head in front of the man’s daughter, who was seen crying helplessly.

Crispin Villamor, the man pushing the cart, said he came across the white pick-up truck on Saturday night.

The vehicle was driving fast and almost hit his daughter. Villamor was initially able to maneuver his cart but the pickup truck still ended up hitting his cart.

Villamor said he was shocked when the driver allegedly threatened him and hit him on the haed.

“Parang hindi niya ako nakikita. Parang nung nagkabangaan na lang, may bumangga na lang sa sasakyan niya, doon na lang siya bumababa. Parang doon siya nabuhayan,” he said. “Sabi niya papatayin niya daw po ako tapos babarilin.” 

(It’s as if he didn’t see me. It was like only when we ran into each other, when something hit his vehicle, that’s when he got out. It was like that’s when he came to his senses. He said he would kill me, shoot me.) 

Her young daughter couldn’t stop crying after witnessing the incident. 

“Masakit po yun para sa atin kasi magulang po tayo. Kasi parang pinakikita natin sa mga tao na hindi, pinakita mo sa anak mo na hindi mo siya pinagtanggol,” said Villamor. 

(That is painful for us as a parent. Because it’s like we are showing people or your child that you didn’t defend her.) 

The witness who took the video said she posted it online because the pickup driver has yet to apologize then.

“Nag-antay po kaming mag-asawa mula umaga hanggang tanghali baka mag-sorry. Pero hindi po kasi nag-sorry kaya naisipan ko po na i-post na lang. Eh kung wala kami doon, baka hindi lang batok inabot niyan,” said Mary Grace Aquilino. 

(My husband and I waited from morning until noon for him to apologize. But since he didn’t apologize, I decided to just post it. If we weren’t there, he might end up with more than a slap on the head.)

The Antipolo City Police said the pickup driver went to the police station to make amends with Villamor. 

“Nagsadya rito para humingi ng paumanhin din. Sabi niya nagkamali siya. ‘Yung sinapak niya sa video, pumunta naman sa police station para linawin ang issue na inimbesigahan namin na sabi niya ay hindi na siya para magsampa ng reklamo,” said Police Captain Arniol Taga, chief investigator.

(He came here to apologize as well. He said he made a mistake. The one he hit in the video also went to the police station to clarify the issue we investigated, and he [Villamor] said he will no longer file a complaint.) 

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) also issued a show-cause order against the driver, whose driver’s license was also placed under preventive suspension for 90 days. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News