Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Tuesday ordered the Manila Police District to ensure a “watertight case” in court against ex-Army reservist Vhon Martin Tanto as Mark Vincent Garalde, the biker he killed following a violent road altercation in Quiapo, Manila on July 25, was buried in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.
This, as Estrada said the Quiapo road rage case is already considered solved.
Garalde’s grieving relatives and friends, who attended the burial at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City, released white balloons as they cried for justice for Garalde, a 35-year-old gaming assistant who left behind a wife who is pregnant with their fourth child.
Garalde’s remains were brought to Quiapo Church at 7 a.m., where a Mass was celebrated by Fr. Marvin Cruz.
Scores of cyclists joined the procession from Quiapo Church to the scene of the crime at P. Casal Street. Garalde’s family lit some candles on the spot as well.
Public Attorney’s Office Chief Persida Acosta was also present at the event.
The cyclists joined the funeral procession to Marikina.
Apart from mourning with the family, they also sent a message to authorities for a need for a bike lane in all cities around the metro.
Tanto was scheduled to appear before the Department of Justice yesterday at 2 p.m. for the preliminary investigation of the murder and frustrated murder charges filed against him by the MPD for the death of Garalde and the serious wounding of 18-year-old student Rocel Bondoc.
“I have ordered our police investigators to build a strong case, a watertight case, against Tanto to ensure that justice will be served. We will ensure that he will be punished accordingly and face the full consequences of his action,” Estrada pointed out.
Estrada offered a P100,000 bounty a day before Tanto’s arrest by Army intelligence agents, members of the Army’s 9th Infantry Battalion, and the local police in Milagros town. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan also offered a P100,000 reward for Tanto’s capture, raising the reward money to P200,000.
Tanto was seen in a CCTV footage shooting Garalde dead on P. Casal Street in Quiapo. A stray bullet from Tanto’s gun hit Bondoc.
Estrada has asked MPD Director Joel Coronel to verify who the civilian informant or informants were that tipped Army intelligence agents on the location of Tanto, who was arrested on July 29 in Barangay Poblacion East, Milagros, Masbate.