Road rage ex-cop no-show in LTO hearing

Wilfredo Gonzales, the former policeman in the viral road rage video, did not attend the Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region hearing of cases against him and instead sent his son to surrender his driver's license.

LTO National Capital Region Acting Assistant Regional Director Hanzley Lim said Gonzales did not appear in the hearing scheduled at 2 p.m. on Thursday, 31 August, and was instead represented by his son in connection with the 90-day preventive suspension that was imposed by the agency early this week.

"Mr. Gonzales did not submit an affidavit so we take it as a waiver on his part for us to decide on the matter based on the pieces of evidence we have," Lim said.

Based on the Show Cause Order signed by LTO-NCR Director Roque Verzosa III that was received by Gonzales on 28 August, failure to submit a notarized affidavit would be deemed as a waiver to hear and contradict the allegations against the latter.

The SCO covers a demand from Gonzales to explain why he should not be penalized for four violations under Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which include reckless driving, obstruction of traffic and improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

"With the absence of the notarized affidavit, these cases were already submitted for resolution and whatever the results, they will be submitted to the office of our LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, for approval," said Lim.

Mendoza earlier directed the LTO-NCR to expedite the resolution of the case without compromising the right of Gonzales to due process.

The maximum penalty for cases leveled against Gonzales by the agency is permanent revocation of his driver's license.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs is set to conduct an investigation on 5 September regarding the viral road rage incident that happened in Quezon City, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said over the weekend, as he reiterated his call for the proper use of firearms by  gun owners, including uniformed officials.

Dela Rosa commended the Philippine National Police for its  decision to revoke the gun privileges of Gonzales.

PNP Chief Benjamin Acorda, he said,  has ordered the Firearms and Explosives Office to immediately strip Gonzales of his License To Own and Possess Firearm, Firearm Registration, and Permit To Carry Firearms Outside his Residence.

Authorities also seized three .45-caliber handguns and one 9-millimeter pistol.

Dela Rosa stressed the need for all firearms owners to become more responsible in their actions.

In a related development, PBGen. Roderick Mariano, Southern Police District Director announced the voluntary surrender of Angelito Rencio y Velasquez Thursday, at 7:45 p.m. at the Makati City Police Station.

Rencio was one of the two men involved in an incident, on 25 August 2023, along Osmeña Highway, Barangay Pio Del Pilar, Makati City, that went viral on social media.

with Lade Jean Kabagani