Bato: Ex-cop in road rage invited to Senate probe next week

The Senate public order and dangerous drugs will call the former police officer who was involved in a road rage in Quezon City last August 8 to appear before the chamber next week, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Wednesday.

“Yes, next week,” Dela Rosa said in a text message to reporters when asked if they will call the former cop identified as Wilfredo Gonzales to the Senate.

According to Dela Rosa's office, the hearing is set on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

The lawmaker said the investigation will push through despite the supposed settlement between Gonzales and the cyclist involved in the incident.

“Yes, the investigation in aid of legislation goes beyond the filing of appropriate charge(s) against the erring gun holder,” Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Pia Cayetano have filed a resolution seeking to investigate the road rage which went viral on social media platforms over the weekend.

Apart from Zubiri and Cayetano, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, during the Senate session Tuesday, also delivered a privilege speech seeking an investigation into the same incident.

In the viral video, Gonzales was seen pulling out a gun during the altercation after the cyclist's bicycle hit the former policeman's vehicle.

Gonzales surrendered to authorities on Sunday afternoon.

Then-Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief Police Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III earlier said Gonzales had surrendered his gun and car and these were taken into custody by the authorities.

According to the QCPD, the altercation between Gonzales and the cyclist happened on August 8 but the viral video of the incident surfaced on social media on August 27.

In a press briefing on Sunday, Gonzales said he and the cyclist went to a police station following the incident and settled their differences.

Lawyer Raymond Fortun, however, said that the cyclist was forced into an agreement admitting that the incident was his fault and was told to pay P500 for the damage to Gonzales’ car.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday ordered an investigation on how the QCPD handled the case.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also said Gonzales should be slapped with criminal charges.

Following this, the Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier today said it is planning to file more criminal charges, including a complaint for grave threat against Gonzales.

Earlier today, Torre resigned as QCPD chief to give way to the investigation into the road rage incident.—LDF, GMA Integrated News