Anti-Road Rage Bill Filed in Congress

MANILA: House of Representatives Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo and four other members lobbied for the passage of a bill allowing the government to file cases against road rage suspects even without the victims' cooperation.

Tulfo, his ACT-CIS Partylist colleagues Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Representative Eric Yap, and Quezon City Second District Representative Ralph Tulfo also call for a stricter penalty for the suspects, as written in House Bill (HB) 8991.

HB 8991, also known as “An Act Penalizing Acts of Road Rage and for Other Purposes” or the “Anti-Road Rage Act,” states that anyone who commits acts of road rage that result in death shall, at the discretion of the court, be sentenced for six to 12 years in prison and fined with not less than P250,000 but not more than P500,000, exclusive of all damages incurred.

The lawmakers decided to file the bill after a road rage incident involving a dismissed police officer happened in Quezon City last month.

In a statement, Tulfo expressed his dismay after finding that even though Wilfredo Gonzales, the road rage suspect, turned himself in to the authorities, no charges were brought against him since the victim chose not to pursue legal action.

“Reports said, the suspect and the victim reached an agreement or settlement at the police station, and perhaps the poor cyclist was also concerned for his personal safety and security and that of his family if he files charges against the ex-cop. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit ako po at ang aking mga kasamahan sa ACT-CIS 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 (This is the reason why I and my colleagues in ACT-CIS will file a bill to continue filing criminal charges against road rage drivers or suspects even after their victims withdraw),” Tulfo stated.

The authors of the proposed bill stated that the government will have the authority to investigate road rage suspects on behalf of victims through the proper legal and law enforcement institutions. This authority shall be exercised when victims are unable or unwilling to file a lawsuit because of fear, intimidation, or other factors.

The bill also states that any government official or employee who exhibits road rage shall be subject to the additional penalty of being permanently barred from government service.

“We have to put an end to this culture of impunity wherein the powerful and the influentials go scot-free in this country. 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,” Tulfo said.

According to data from the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System, there were around 72,000 road crashes in Metro Manila in 2022, with road rage accounting for the majority of them rather than human or vehicle error.

Photo from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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