A truck driver has been convicted of murder by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) for ramming and killing a van driver during a road rage incident in Manila in 2023.
Truck driver Marlon V. Ilas was found “guilty beyond reasonable doubt” of murder in the death of van driver Benjamin E. Bagtas on Oct. 12, 2023.
Manila RTC Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina sentenced Ilas to reclusion perpetua (maximum of 40 years) and ordered to pay Bagtas’ heirs P100,000 for civil indemnity, P100,000 for moral damages, P100,000 for exemplary damages, and P117,912 for actual damages.
“After a judicious examination of the testimonies of the Prosecution’s and Defense’s witnesses and the pieces of evidence they presented, this Court finds the version of the Prosecution to be in accord with the truth,” Judge Medina ruled.
At the time of the road rage incident, Bagtas was driving an aluminum van loaded with garlic to be delivered to Tanauan, Batangas.
The two drivers found themselves fighting for road space along their route during which Ilas smashed the side mirror of the aluminum van driven by Bagtas.
Upon reaching the area of North Harbor, Bagtas stopped his aluminum van and decided to confront Ilas. However, Ilas rammed Bagtas with the trailer truck.
The court’s decision stated: “Among the pieces of evidence presented by the Prosecution, the most compelling was the CCTV (closed-circuit television) footage, which vividly illustrates how the subject incident transpired. The scenes depicted in this footage substantiated the veracity of the Prosecution’s narrative.”
“Wherefore, finding accused Marlon Ilas y Valdez guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Murder, this Court hereby imposes upon him the penalty of reclusion perpetua with no eligibility of parole,” the RTC ruled in the decision promulgated last May 16. (Jeffrey Damicog)
