BICOL Saro Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon has strongly refuted remarks made by actress Marietta “Pokwang” Subong regarding his involvement in the road rage incident involving her brother, Carlo Subong.
Ridon, Chairperson of the House Committee on Public Accounts and a member of the House Committee on Transportation, issued a statement rejecting Subong’s allegations and reiterating his commitment to pursuing appropriate charges against Carlo Subong for his actions during the incident.
Ridon took exception to Subong’s video statement, in which she alluded to a certain lawmaker speaking on the road rage incident and falsely alleged that photographs of her entire family were posted online, further making unfounded threats of cyberlibel and cyberbullying.
Ridon clarified that he was the lawmaker being alluded to, as he has been consistently speaking on road abuse issues. He emphasized that Carlo Subong, not Marietta Subong, should apologize to the nation and the aggrieved parties, as it was Carlo who committed grave threats, inflicted physical injuries, and engaged in acts of child abuse against Crispin Villamor and his daughter.
Ridon also refuted Subong’s claim that photographs of her entire family were posted online, stating that only photographs of Carlo Subong, the individual involved in the incident, were posted. He asserted the public’s right to know the identity of a person who commits crimes against ordinary Filipinos.
Ridon defended Congress’ oversight powers over matters at the intersection of transportation and public safety, including road rage incidents, regardless of the geographic location of the incident. He dismissed Subong’s threats of cyberlibel and cyberbullying cases, stating that there can be no cyberlibel or cyberbullying where statements are factual and based on publicly available information.
Ridon affirmed his commitment to ensuring that Carlo Subong is afforded due process during the LTO proceedings, while also ensuring that his driver’s license is permanently revoked after full administrative proceedings. He also vowed to coordinate with the Department of Justice to ensure that appropriate criminal charges are pursued against Carlo Subong for his actions during the road rage incident, emphasizing that these are public offenses that implicate public interest and accountability.
