Motorist hits senior citizen with baseball bat in Las Piñas traffic row

A senior citizen was hit by a baseball bat three times by a motorist during an altercation amid a traffic congestion in Las Piñas City, GMA News' Nico Waje reported on “24 Oras”.

The incident, which was caught on camera, showed the suspect in the middle of a heated argument with victim Julian Adlao Jr. on Sunday morning.

The suspect was carrying a baseball bat while shouting at Adlao who was wearing a helmet. At one point the suspect raised his bat in front of the victim but backed off.

Adlao, in response, tried to remove the suspect's license plate. The suspect moved towards the senior citizen and hit him with the bat three times.

Bystanders immediately meditated after Adlao Jr. stumbled to the ground due to the force of the blows.

“Naki-busina lang ako.  Nagagalit siya. Huminto ako tinanong ko sya ano bang problema sayo? Sabi nya 'eh nagbusina ka..busina ka eh’. Nanghingi ako [ng] pasensya. Bumaba siya nagdala sya ng palo,” Adlao Jr. said.

(I honked at him. He went mad. I stopped and asked him what his problem… He said ‘you were honking’ so I apologized. He suddenly got out of his car and brought a bat.)

Both of them were brought to the traffic sector of the local city station where the suspect sought to reach a settlement with Adlao, who said that he is intent on filing charges.

The victim admitted to being intoxicated during the altercation but said there was not enough reason for Gonzales to resort to violence.

“Pasalamat ako sa Panginoon naka-helmet ako.. buhay pa ako kahit napalo ako,” he said.

(Thank God I was wearing a helmet… I’m still alive despite the blows.)

GMA News tried to locate tha suspect, who was later identified as Jerson Dave Gonzales at the address he provided in the blotter case but he was not there. Residents also said they do not know him.

Col. Jimmy Santos, acting Las Piñas City police chief, assured they will look into the matter, saying giving wrong information to investigators may result in additional charges.

“Pag-uusapan pa namin dahil medyo may problema doon. Dapat pag ikaw ay tinatanong ng kapulisan o ng nag iimbestiga kung saan ka nakatira kailangan truthful. Kapag ika’y napatunayan na nagsisinungaling maaaring madagdagan ang kaso mo,”  he said.

(We will discuss this because it poses a problem. If you are asked by investigators of your address, you should be truthful. Otherwise, if it is proven you are lying, there will be more charges against you.) -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News