Senate mulls on special law for road rage incidents

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday wrapped its investigation into the viral road rage in Quezon City involving a cyclist and a former police officer, seeking a special law that would immediately address similar events in the future. 

In a chance interview, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, the panel chairperson, recognized the appearance of Wilfredo Gonzales, the driver who was seen pulling out a gun during an altercation after the cyclist, Allan Bandiola's bicycle hit his car along the road in Quezon City on 8 August.

Dela Rosa initially thought Gonzales would not attend the hearing because the latter initially presented a medical certificate with a doctor's advice for a rest.

The senator earlier warned that he would issue a subpoena should Gonzales won't appear in the hearing.

"At least, he came. Luckily he appeared today so no need to issue for subpoena," Dela Rosa.

During the hearing, Gonzales admitted that he assaulted and cocked a gun at cyclist Allan Bandiola during a road altercation in Quezon City. Their confrontation went viral after a concerned citizen took the video and uploaded it on social media.

Gonzales said he regrets his action. He then apologized to Bandiola and to everybody.

"I apologize for that part, for hitting him, for pulling out and pointing a gun. I apologize to everyone, not just to him (Allan Bandiola), but to all of you. It's my fault, I was just shocked," Gonzales said in Filipino.

Gonzales narrated that Bandiola acted as if he would attack him prompting him to pull his gun out. He said he was defending himself because he was in recovery from an operation.

"Galing ako sa spine operation. So sa isip ko ay 'yung,  element na i-shock ko manlang siya [para hindi niya] ako masugod. Kasi kung madadakma niya ako baka mapatay niya ako, mahina ako. Bagong opera po ako (I came from a spine operation. So, I thought there should be an element that I should shock him so he can't hurt me. Because if he catches me, he might kill me since I'm weak. I am still recovering from an operation)," he explained.

In his defense, Bandiola said it was just his normal reaction because Gonzales hit his head.

"Normal reaction ko lang po 'yun kasi binatukan niya ako kaya bumaba ako ng bike (That was just my normal reaction because he hit me. That's why I got off my bike," he said.

Bandiola said he had settled the issue with Gonzales at the police station.

"Wala pong pumilit sa akin. Nakipag areglo po ako dahil ayaw ko ng gulo (No one forced me. I've compromised to settle things because I don't want any trouble)," he said.

But, lawyer Raymond Fortun, also a bike enthusiast, told the committee that Bandiola was forced into an agreement admitting that the incident was his fault. He was also told to pay P500 for the damage to Gonzales' vehicle.

Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police can file a case against Gonzales which can be graver charges than the alarming scandal, such as grave threat and frustrated homicide.

"Initially, we know that Bandiola won't really want to file a case but then again it was cited during the hearing, particularly by Atty. Fortun and even the senate president discussed that the PNP can file a case even without a private complainant by the use of CCTVs and other witnesses," he said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri suggested a special law on road rage shall be legislated to protect the public from erring motorists.

"We can come up with a special law on road rage so that even if the victim is scared to file a case, it becomes the people of the Republic of the Philippines vs. so and so…Because of this, it will become the burden of the government to file the case against these individuals," Zubiri said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Senators Robinhood Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada noted that the culture of violence, particularly on public roads, is not accepted.

Padilla rejected Gonzales' explanation that he pulled out his firearm because he felt threatened by Bandiola.

The gun owners, he added, should always be responsible as to when should they purposively take out their firearms.