Security guard Christian Joseph Floralde said he has accepted the apology from Jose Antonio Sanvicente but vowed he will pursue the charges against the latter.
Sanvicente is the 34-year-old driver of white Toyota RAV4 sports utility vehicle (SUV) with plate number NCO 3781 involved in running over Floralde who was manning the traffic in Mandaluyong City last June 5.
He later showed up at the Camp Crame to present himself for questioning after the incident, which was caught on a dashcam of another motorist, went viral on social media and sparked outrage among netizens.
Sanvicente, during a press conference arranged by the PNP, also apologized to Floralde who was hospitalized for several days after suffering injuries to his body.
In a recent interview with GMA News, the security guard maintained he will pursue the complaints against the driver even if he has already accepted his apology.
“Tinatanggap ko ‘yung pag-sorry niya, paghingi niya ng tawad sa akin, sa mga kamag-anak ko, sa pamilya ko. Pero ‘yung kaso, nandon pa rin ‘yung kaso. Tuloy pa rin ‘yung kaso,” Floralde said.
Floralde narrated he was very worried about the fate of his family if the incident turned for the worse and cost him his life.
He is relieved that the incident was caught on a daschcam; otherwise nothing could have been done to identify Sanvicente.
“Paano kung walang dashcam na video tapos namatay ako? Sino masisi, sino hahabulin? Itutuloy-tuloy namin hanggang sa makamit namin ‘yung hustisya na nararapat po sa akin,” the guard said.
The guard also said he suffered not only injuries but also trauma from the incident especially that he coughed out blood after being run over by Sanvicente’s SUV.
He has to stay in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) and was under strict observation to make sure that his injuries were not serious and life-threatening.
His hospital bills racked up and his agency has to pay P83,000 in partial payment before he was allowed to be discharged.
Sanvicente is facing charges before the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office but was again a no show at the preliminary hearing last Friday, June 17, and only sent his lawyer.
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