JV seeks Senate appearance of gun-toting Gonzales

Dismissed policeman Wilfredo Gonzales should appear in the Senate investigation into the road rage incident in Quezon City that went viral, Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said Friday.

"He [Gonzales] is the principal character here so I think he should really appear," Ejercito told reporters in a virtual interview.

He said Gonzales's appearance at the upper chamber's scheduled hearing next week could shed light on the 8 August incident near the Welcome Rotunda in Quezon City.

"It would help us craft laws in aid of legislation. What can we do about it? Do we need to impose stiffer penalties for those who are involved in road rage incidents?" he said.

Should Gonzales, who was caught in a now-deleted viral video physically assaulting and brandishing a gun at an unarmed cyclist, decide not to attend the hearing, the lawmaker said he could be summoned through a subpoena.

The lawmaker, who is a cyclist himself, also called on the cyclist who was physically assaulted by Gonzales to come forward.

"He should not be scared because many people are willing to support him and provide protection for him," Ejercito said.

Earlier this week, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte urged the cyclist to come forward, saying she would provide him with protection and legal assistance.

"We are appealing to the complainant to come forward so that Willy Gonzales, whom I consider a menace to society, is held accountable," Belmonte said.

"We want to assure the cyclist that we will extend him legal assistance, as well as put him and his family under our protection so that justice is served," she added.

Following the incident, at least two resolutions have been filed in the Senate seeking to investigate the road rage incident.

In Senate Resolution 763, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Pia Cayetano stressed that the "incident involves public order and safety, which is an important concern for everyone."

"This is a serious case involving public order and safety, which cannot simply be settled amicably and swept under the rug," the resolution read.

The two lawmakers also emphasized that the incident "highlights the safety of cyclists on the road, and the issue of road sharing, a concept that remains ignored by and is alien to many Filipino motorists."