Alyansa Senate bets: Strict enforcement of existing laws to curb road rage

A screengrab from a viral video of a road altercation in Antipolo City on Sunday shows the driver of a sports utility vehicle after he fired at several motorcycle riders and inadvertently hit his female companion.  (SCREENGRAB PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — While there is no specific law against motorists resorting to road rage, senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas believe that there are available laws that can be used to prevent such incidents.

In a press briefing on Friday in Antipolo City, Rizal, candidates were asked as to what laws can be crafted to prevent road rage, as two of the recent incidents occurred in the said city.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson said that he cannot give any advice to the motorist who shot dead a motorcycle rider along the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Antipolo last Sunday as he might have a mental problem. 

But what he suggests, Lacson said, is for the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce gun laws.

“Kung merong panahon na napaka-strikto ng gun control, itong panahon ng kampanya kasi may Comelec (Commission on Elections) ban nga eh.  So ano’ng maipapayo?  Wala tayong maipapayo kung sira ulo.  Dapat ‘yong PNP na lang ang ating medyo kalampagin na ‘yong pag-implementa, pag-enforce ng batas especially sa gun control,” he said.

(If there is a time where gun control should be strictly enforced, it is during the campaign season because there is a Comelec gun ban.  So what advice can I give?  We cannot do anything for people who are mentally ill.  We just have to ask the PNP to strictly enforce and implement laws, especially on gun control.)

Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, meanwhile said that the Philippines actually has stronger laws on gun control when compared to the United States — which indicates that the focus should be on the implementation side.

“Dito sa atin pagkabili mo, pagrehistro ka, paulit-ulit kang hiningan ng LTOP (license to own and possess firearms) paulit-ulit kang hiningan ng rehistro para malisensya eh.  Ang higpit nga dito sa atin kung tutuusin, but then again, still, it remains to be seen, basta’t implementasyon ang importante,” Sotto said.

(Here in the Philippines when you buy a gun, you would be pestered with requirements for an LTOP, to register so that it will be licensed.  Gun laws are strict here actually, but then again, still, it remains to be seen as implementation is the important part.)

“Pero pagdating sa gun control mas mahigpit ang Pilipinas na gun laws que sa sa America,” he added.

(But in terms of gun control, there are more restrictions in the Philippines compared to America.)

Last Sunday, netizens caught on camera at least two motorcycle riders mauling a driver of a black sports utility vehicle along the westbound lane of the Marikina-Infanta Highway in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City.

After being ganged up, the driver of the black SUV, identified as a certain “Kenneth”, drew a pistol and fired at his attackers, two while accidentally hitting his female companion. 

The suspect was arrested by responding police officers.

READ: Road rage shooting suspect in Antipolo arrested  

The PNP filed a frustrated murder complaint against the motorist, but it was upgraded to murder after one of the victims died.

Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos meanwhile said that there have been successive road rage incidents already — including another one in Antipolo.

“These road rage incidents have appeared one after the other.  And for me this is a sign that […] we should address our traffic situation,” he said in Filipino.

“Second, this is a sign that we seem to have lost respect for the law.  Even a small bump results in a fistfight, sometimes they even open fire on each other.  So the solution here is simple, we have a lot of laws available, we just need strict implementation.  We should not act when the incident is already finished, we should be proactive,” he added.

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo meanwhile said that they have filed a bill on the issue.

READ: House lawmakers propose stiffer road rage penalties  

“We in ACT-CIS filed a bill last year, I think it’s on the second reading, under the committee on transportation headed by Congressman Acop, so it is in the second reading already, penalizing road rage,” he said.

“If you damage something, because usually in road rages, they break glasses and mirrors, kick the car, there are penalties provided in our bill.  Now if there is someone who was injured, I’m not so sure but there is a penalty of prison time worth three years to six years.  If somebody dies, it’s a penalty of 6 to 12 (years),” he added.

Recently, videos on social media showed a person in another SUV   with an ‘8’ plate — a special protocol plate reserved for   House of Representatives members — getting out of his vehicle to confront another driver.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that the motorist in the Montero seems to have used a fake ‘8’ plate.

According to Velasco, the plate used by the motorist did not have the security features that the House places.