Teacher dies after getting hit by SUV linked to Marikina vice mayor's son

A 27-year-old senior high school teacher died after his motorcycle was hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that was allegedly driven by a son of the vice mayor of Marikina City.

According to EJ Gomez’s report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the incident that was caught on camera and happened at an intersection in Barangay Concepcion Dos in Marikina City on June 13.

The mother of Alexander Quintos Cruz said her son was in critical condition due to brain hemorrhage, which led to his hospitalization for a week before passing away.

Alexander’s mother shared that he was supposed to meet with his friends for their planned outing to La Union when the tragedy happened.

“Napakabata pa ng anak ko, marami pa siyang pwedeng maibahagi sa mundo, marami pa siyang pwedeng gawin, marami pa siyang buhay na pwedeng ma-touch. Pero tinanggal po nila yung pagkakataon na ‘yun sa anak ko,” said May Ann Cruz.

(My son was still so young; he had so much more to share with the world, so much more to do, and so many more lives to touch. But they stripped my son of that opportunity.)

Alexander was a senior high school teacher in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina.

Investigation by the Marikina City police showed that the 24-year-old suspect was allegedly intoxicated.

“The driver of Vehicle 2 was subjected to an Alcohol Breath Analyzer (ABA) examination conducted by personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which yielded a positive result for Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC),” the Marikina Police said in a statement.

Alexander’s mother denied that her son did not switch on his signal lights based on the CCTV footage.

“Sinabi po niya na hindi daw po nag signal light ang anak ko at hindi din nag-preno. Na-prove po ng colored na CCTV na may signal, malayo pa sa intersection, ‘yung pagpapatakbo ng motor ng anak ko,” said May Ann.

(They claimed my son did not use his turn signal and did not brake. But the color CCTV footage proved that his motorcycle was signaling well before reaching the intersection.)

CCTV footage showed Alexander using his turn signal before entering the intersection box and making a left turn – only to be hit by an oncoming SUV, throwing both Alexander and the motorcycle off the road.

The Marikina police said the driver of the SUV was identified as 24-year-old David Alfred de Guzman, reportedly a son of Marikina City Vice Mayor Del de Guzman.

According to the victim’s mother, another son of the vice mayor allegedly approached her.

“Nagpapunta po si vice mayor ng kaniyang representative sa pamamagitan po ng kaniyang anak na si Dean De Guzman at kinumpirma naman po ni Dean De Guzman na brother po niya si David De Guzman,” May Ann said.

(The vice mayor sent a representative through his other son, Dean de Guzman, and Dean de Guzman confirmed that David de Guzman is his brother.)

The victim’s mother also said the vice mayor allegedly reached out to the police.

“Tumawag po siya sa father niya at inabot po niya ‘yung telepono sa sarhento at sabi po ay ‘gusto daw po kayo kausapin ng father ko.’ Ang sabi naman po ng sarhento, ‘pwede bang i-loud speak?’ Subalit hindi po pumayag ‘yung nasa kabilang linya. Kasi sabi po ng sarhento ‘for fairness to both parties,’ gusto niyang i-loud speak, and then after po noon kinausap na po nung sarhento na nakaharap sa amin ‘yung nasa kabilang linya,” she said.

(He called his father and handed the phone to the sergeant, saying, ‘My father wants to speak with you.’ The sergeant asked, ‘Can I put it on speakerphone?’ But the person on the other end refused. The sergeant explained he wanted it on speakerphone 'for fairness to both parties,' and after that, the sergeant spoke to the person on the line right in front of us.)

“Pero ang ginawa po niya ay inuulit niya po ‘yung sinasabi ng nasa kabilang linya (jump) and then, ‘Sino po ba itong aking kausap? Ano po? Del? Del De Guzman?’ So ‘yun po yung kompirmasyon ko na ang ama po ng nakabangga sa aking anak ay si Vice Mayor Del De Guzman,” she added.

(But what the sergeant did was repeat what the person on the other end was saying (jump) and then he said, ‘Who am I speaking with? Who? Del? Del de Guzman?’ So that was my confirmation that the father of the driver who hit my son is Vice Mayor Del de Guzman.)

GMA News is trying to reach out to the camp of the vice mayor for comment.

De Guzman was arrested after the incident and was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and damage to property, as well as violating the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

The suspect has been released after posting bail, the Marikina police said.

“Lahat naman po nasunod natin ‘yung tamang proseso, na under custody siya, nagkaroon ng inquest proceedings, naikulong po siya, then nailabas lang din po siya nung nailabas po ‘yung kanyang bail,” said Marikina City Police chief Police Colonel Jenny Tecson.

(We followed the correct process for everything – he was placed under custody, went through inquest proceedings, was jailed, and was only released once his bail was issued.)

The victim’s family reportedly submitted his death certificate to the Marikina Hall of Justice as part of the legal process to elevate the complaint to reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA News