Insanity on the road

In a fit of violent and uncontrolled anger, and a display of brazen arrogance plus a repulsive uncouthness, a former policeman, who was penalized for serious misconduct that led to his removal from the police force, accosted, slapped, and threatened a cyclist by drawing his gun and cocking it, in a traffic altercation in Quezon City in early August. The scene went viral on social media.

Instead of putting the ex-policeman under arrest and charging him with assault and grave threat, his former comrades-in-arms, led by a police general, shamelessly went to his defense, called a press conference, and practically lawyered for the culprit.

An enraged netizen reacted to this effrontery and bashed him mercilessly. Expressing remorse and regret, he tendered his resignation as police director while apologizing to the public for his scandalous behavior.

The unrepentant scoundrel of a man, who up to the present is blaming the victim for his uncivilized outburst, was promptly removed from his employment at the office of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

The Land Transportation Office revoked his driver's license after an administrative hearing, which the former uniformed man did not attend despite due notice. He is facing several complaints, from reckless driving, disregarding traffic signs, and obstruction of traffic to improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The Firearms and Explosives Office also immediately stripped the gun wielder of his license to own and possess a firearm, firearm registration, and permit to carry a gun outside his residence.

He was also ordered to return his retirement benefits, which he is not entitled arising from his dismissal from the police force.

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

In another similar traffic road rage in Makati, an active duty policeman and alleged member of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were caught in a video that went viral on social media, scuffling with the policeman pulling out a gun.

A resolution in the Senate was passed expressing alarm over the increasing number of road rage incidents that seriously threaten the public and the citizenry.

There have been past violent traffic altercations that led to serious injuries and even death to the protagonists before these two incidents. To be sure, others were unreported with the same destructive consequences. There will be more injuries and deathly confrontations on the road if government agencies tasked to issue licenses to operate motor vehicles and to possess and carry firearms are not strict in their issuances.

Laxity and even corruption on the part of government personnel authorized to issue the said licenses result in giving the same to incompetent and inexperienced drivers of motor vehicles, while the grant of licenses to possess and carry firearms to psychologically unfit individuals is laying the foundation for temporarily deranged persons to explode when triggered by a provoking circumstance that unleashes the fury within them.

Traffic enforcers who use their traffic enforcement badge to mulct money from erring motorists contribute to this insanity on the road. When they escape punishment for errant and unlawful traffic violations, they are emboldened to commit the same transgressions until it leads to tragic consequences.

Stiffer penalties for violations of traffic rules, like permanent revocation of licenses plus several years' incarceration, are a deterrent. So, with incursions on the regulations to carry and possess firearms. The penalties for violators must be increased. Similarly, those found to issue licenses without the applicants being compliant with the legal requirements must be prosecuted and jailed.

A law should be passed for all applicants to undergo psychological tests. All those who fail should be permanently banned from operating a motorized vehicle or possessing and carrying firearms.

Unless these measures are undertaken, legislated, and enforced, the roads will not be safe, and the citizenry will be unsafe.