DEPUTY Majority Leader Erwin T. Tulfo and his colleagues from the ACT-CIS partylist wants government to take over in filing criminal charges against suspects in road rage incidents following another road rage incident involving a dismissed police officer last Aug. 8 in Quezon City.
In a statement, Tulfo was enraged after learning that although the road rage suspect, Wilfredo Gonzales, a dismissed cop, surrendered to authorities, no criminal charges were filed against him after the victim did not pursue filing a case in court.
“Reports said, the suspect and the victim reached an agreement or settlement at the police station, and perhaps the poor cyclist was also concern for his personal safety and security and that of his family if he files charges against the ex-cop,” Tulfo said.
“Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit ako po at ang aking mga kasamahan sa ACT-CIS (partylist) ay maghahain ng panukalang batas na ituloy ang pagsasampa ng kasong kriminal laban sa mga road rage drivers o suspect kahit pa umatras na ang kanilang mga biktima,” he added.
Under House Bill No. 8991 signed by Rep. Erwin Tulfo and his colleagues from the partylist, Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Cong. Eric Yap and Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Ralph Tulfo, the lawmakers also wants a stricter penalty against road rage suspects.
The bill entitled “An Act penalizing Acts of Road Rage and for Other Purposes,” of the “Anti-Road Rage Act” said, any person who engages in road rage, which result to death, shall be imprisoned for six to 12 years and a fine of not less than P250, 000 but not more than P500, 000 exclusive of all the damages incurred, at the discretion of the court.
The lawmakers also said that the government, through the appropriate legal and law enforcement agencies, shall have the authority to prosecute suspects of road rage on behalf of victims. This authority shall be exercised in cases where victims are unable or unwilling to pursue legal action due to fear, intimidation, or other reasons.
No more! Enough is enough! The government should take over in filing cases against these menaces in our society even if their victims show no more interest in attaining justice,” Tulfo Insisted.
The bill also said authority that any government official or employee who engages in road rage shall suffer the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from government service.
“We have to put an end on this culture of impunity wherein the powerful and the influentials go scot-free in this country,” Tulfo added. “We must never allow armed bullies to terrorize the weak and the helpless in the four corners of this nation whether they be rebels, terrorists, and worse people in authority.”
Records from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMRAS), showed there were nearly 72, 000 road crashes in Metro Manila in 2022, the majority of which were caused not by human or vehicle error, but by road rage.
