Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 4) — With road rage becoming rampant in the country, lawmakers want hefty fines and jail time for the offense.
Filed on Monday by Reps. Erwin Tulfo, Edvic Yap, Jocelyn Tulfo, Eric Yap, and Ralph Tulfo, House Bill 8991 defines road rage as “the aggressive, hostile or violent behavior in traffic or on the road by a motorist.”Such acts include wild gesturing at another party or passenger, cursing or any form of verbal insults, any physical attack at another or an attempt thereof, and any kind of threat or intimidation.Also in the category are reckless driving, any use of force against another person, and other analogous circumstances, including all other acts that may fall under the Revised Penal Code and other Special Penal Laws, as may be applicable.In a statement, Tulfo said he was enraged that no criminal charges were filed against Wilfredo Gonzales, the gun-toting dismissed cop in a viral video, 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.[Translation: This is the reason why I and my colleagues in ACT-CIS will file a bill to pursue criminal charges against road rage drivers or suspects even after their victims have withdrawn.]Under the bill entitled “Anti-Road Rage Act of 2023,” any person who commits acts of road rage that result in death shall be sentenced to a term of six to twelve years imprisonment and a fine between ₱250,000 and ₱500,000 at the discretion of the court and exclusive of all damages incurred.The bill would also authorize the government, through the appropriate legal and law enforcement agencies, to prosecute road rage suspects on behalf of victims, who are unable or unwilling to pursue legal action due to fear, intimidation, or other factors.Lawmakers further said that any government official or employee in a road rage would be permanently barred from government service.
