SC justice’s swift decision to fire dismissed cop in road rage case lauded
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MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers have commended the prompt decision of Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario to fire Wilfredo Gonzales, the dismissed policeman who figured in a road rage case with a cyclist in Quezon City.
Santa Rosa City, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, and House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas praised the decisive action of Rosario against Gonzales, who was a conterminous employee in the office of the SC justice.
Rosario terminated the services of Gonzales on August 27 – the same day a video of a road rage case featuring Gonzales and a cyclist went viral on social media.
READ: Raps filed vs 3 QC traffic investigators for ‘failure’ to protect cyclist in road rage case
“Justice Rosario took quick and decisive action in addressing the issue. I was told that he made the decision promptly after viewing the video last Sunday,” said Fernandez, chairman of the House committee on public order and security.
“What the SC official did was truly admirable. He evened up the scales of justice, which many believe tilted unfairly towards the side of the former High Court employee,” he added.
READ: QCPD chief quits for hosting presser with dismissed cop in road rage case
For Brosas, the action of the SC justice shows he does not condone Gonzales’ behavior.
“Gusto lang namin i-commend ang agarang aksyon ng office of Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario sa pagsibak sa kanya (Gonzales) as a coterminous employee ng kanyang (Rosario) opisina,” Brosas said.
“Unlike the QCPD, which seems to be coddling Gonzales, the office of Justice Rosario has shown that they do not condone such actions,” she added.
READ: Road rage: Deadly encounters that can be avoided
Last August 30, Fernandez presided over a hearing on road rage incident. The hearing was attended by former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief Brig. Gen. Nicholas Torre III, who resigned after getting flak for hosting a press conference with Gonzales, and lawyer Raymond Fortun, “a cycling enthusiast who sought Gonzales’ prosecution.”
The lower chamber also plans to invite the dismissed policeman to its next hearing, which will resume in October.
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