‘Road rage’ driver may lose gun permit

MANILA, Philippines—The driver of a Mercedes Benz who was videotaped on a cell phone camera pointing his gun at a taxi driver might end up losing his right to carry one.

According to the chief of the Philippine National Police’s Firearms and Explosives Office, he was waiting for a report from the Quezon City Police District on the identity of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) driver.

“From our end, we can check with the investigators on the progress of the case. The moment the identity of the person is ascertained, we will recommend the cancellation or revocation of his gun [permit] if that [firearm] is licensed,” Chief Supt. Virgilio Lazo said.

Should the gun turn out to be unlicensed, the SUV driver will be charged with illegal possession of firearms, said Cubao police station commander Supt. Ramon Pranada who has jurisdiction over the area where the “road rage” incident happened.

Under the new gun law, or Republic Act No. 10591, one of the grounds for revoking a gun permit is the use of the firearm in a crime.

The SUV driver was videotaped pointing a gun at a taxi driver whom he had gotten into an altercation with. The incident happened on the Edsa-Santolan flyover in Quezon City on Friday.

The footage has made the rounds of Facebook and other social networking sites. It showed the SUV driver—a young man in a blue shirt and denim pants—accompanied by an older man, standing beside the taxi and arguing with cab driver Glen Remetio who was seated inside his vehicle.

Remetio was seen pointing a screwdriver at the SUV driver who kicked the door of his cab repeatedly. When Remetio finally got out of the taxi, the other driver took a gun out of his bag and pointed it at him.