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JV Ejercito seeks probe on viral road rage incident in Quezon City

August 29, 2023

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the road rage incident early this month involving a cyclist and a dismissed police officer, wherein the latter assaulted and held the former at gunpoint.

In light of numerous reported incidents of discrimination and harassment faced by cyclists on public roads, Ejercito said in his Resolution No. 764, he aims to assess and review the effectiveness of existing laws and regulations in safeguarding and ensuring safe road usage for all.

“Acts of assaulting an unarmed person and holding him or her at gunpoint because of a traffic altercation should be condemned and the person who abuses his or her privilege to own, possess and carry a firearm should be held accountable,” Ejercito emphasized.

“Roads as a public domain should be shared by all, cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike,” he added.

A viral video clip, captured by a passing vlogger, showed an individual, later identified as Wilfredo Gonzales, stepping out from a vehicle and forcefully striking the cyclist's helmet with his hand. He then proceeded to draw a firearm and cock it.

The road rage incident happened near Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City at 6:00 p.m. last Aug. 8, according to lawyer Raymond Fortun in a Facebook post.

Ejercito said the culture of impunity will never be acceptable and its propagation should be prevented and “not given the slightest chance to succeed or even gain traction in the minds and hearts of our people.”

“Acts of violence have no place in our society. Those who choose to inflict injury towards another in shared public spaces, such as roads and thoroughfares should be held accountable and answerable to the laws of the land,” he said.

The lawmaker from San Juan believes that it is imperative to determine the necessity of crafting legislation to prevent road rage as well as to protect civilians using public roads against violence.

“[It] would ensure that those who are entrusted to own/ possess and carry firearms are responsible and mentally stable,” Ejercito said.

“Road safety is not limited to improving infrastructure but ensuring the safe travel of every person and keeping them secured from any bodily harm that may emanate from a fellow road user,” he pointed out.

On Monday, Aug. 28, the Land Transportation Office preventively suspended the driver's license of Gonzales for 90 days. Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police revoked his license to own and possess firearms, firearms registration, and permit to carry firearms outside residence.

In another Facebook post on Monday, Fortun, who first shared the video on social media, said the cyclist will no longer file charges against Gonzales due to fear for his personal safety and well-being of his family.

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