A senior high school teacher in Marikina City has died from injuries sustained when an oncoming SUV struck his motorcycle at an intersection, in a collision now drawing scrutiny because the vehicle was allegedly driven by a son of the city’s vice mayor.
Alexander Quintos Cruz, 27, who taught at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, suffered a brain hemorrhage in the June 13 crash and spent a week in the hospital before he died. The collision happened at an intersection in Barangay Concepcion Dos and was captured on camera, according to EJ Gomez’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday.
Marikina police identified the SUV’s driver as David Alfred de Guzman, 24, described in reports as a son of Vice Mayor Del de Guzman. He was arrested and initially charged with reckless imprudence resulting in physical injuries and damage to property, along with a violation of the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013. Authorities said a breath test pointed to alcohol in his system at the time.
“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.
Cruz’s mother, May Ann Cruz, pushed back on suggestions that her son had failed to use his signal or brake before the crash, saying footage showed otherwise.
“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,” she said.
The CCTV recording showed Cruz activating his turn signal ahead of the intersection and beginning a left turn before the SUV hit him, throwing both rider and motorcycle off the road. He had been on his way to meet friends for a planned trip to La Union when the crash occurred.
“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,” May Ann said.
May Ann also alleged that the vice mayor’s family inserted itself into the aftermath. She said one of de Guzman’s brothers, Dean De Guzman, came forward and confirmed the relationship.
“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,” she said.
She further claimed the vice mayor himself attempted to speak with police by phone at the scene, an exchange she said a sergeant declined to put on speaker.
“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.
“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.
Police said the suspect was processed through inquest proceedings and detained before being freed on bail.
“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.
With Cruz’s death, his family has moved to escalate the case. Relatives reportedly turned over his death certificate to the Marikina Hall of Justice as part of the process to upgrade the charge to reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.
