LTO backs Senate probe on QC road rage incident

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is backing the Senate's upcoming probe into the viral road rage incident involving a former cop and a cyclist in Quezon City.

In a statement, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the Senate’s investigation into the incident would also highlight the importance of responsible road sharing as well as the safety of motorists and cyclists.

“The Senate inquiry is a testament that road rage incidents certainly involve and relate with public order and safety. Ang ganitong mga klase ng insidente ay hindi basta-basta dapat pinapalampas dahil kaligtasan ng mga motorista at ng mga mananakay ang nakasalalay dito (This kind of incident should not be ignored because it involves the safety of motorists and passengers),” Mendoza said.

“Kahit gumugulong na ang imbestigasyon ng ibang ahensya sa insidente, mahalaga pa rin ang magiging ambag ng pagtalakay na gagawin sa Senado upang ating malaman kung ano-ano ang mga bagay na dapat nating i-improve sa sektor ng transportasyon,” he added.

(Although there is already an ongoing investigation into the incident, the Senate’s inquiry would still be important for us to know the issues we should be improving in the transportation sector.)

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.

At the House of Representatives, 1-Rider party-list Representatives Bonifacio Bosita and Ramon Rodriguez have also filed a resolution seeking a probe on the same incident.

Viral video

In the viral video, former police officer Wilfredo 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.

Torre subsequently resigned as QCPD chief to give way to the investigation into the road rage incident.

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.

At 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.

Equal access to public roads

LTO’s Mendoza said the Senate hearing could also be a tool for the public to realize that each and everyone has equal access to public roads.

The LTO has issued a show cause order against Gonzales and it also temporarily suspended his driver’s license pending probe on the matter.

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

For its part, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had said that it is planning to file more criminal charges, including a complaint for grave threat against Gonzales. — Ted Cordero/RSJ, GMA Integrated News