MANILA, Philippines–A professor from the University of the Philippines (UP) reported a “road rage” incident in Quezon City on Monday that left her and her family members traumatized and fearing for their lives.
This was after an initial police investigation showed that the man who drew a gun to confront them during the traffic altercation was using a vehicle allegedly belonging to the family of an incumbent town mayor in Bulacan province.
In a complaint filed in the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), the professor—who requested not to be named in this report for security reasons—said she and her family members were in their vehicle passing through Congressional Road when they encountered the gun-toting man.
The man got off from a silver Toyota Innova (ZEL-124). Records from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which were obtained later in the day by investigators, showed that the Innova is registered to Priscilla Francisco Meneses, mother of Mayor Patrick Meneses of Bulacan, Bulacan.
The Inquirer tried to reach Mayor Meneses for comment, but the calls and text messages sent to his mobile phone remained unanswered at press time.
The UP professor was then in a Fortuner with her 19-year-old son, her daughter-in-law, her two small grandchildren and their nannies, on their way to Himlayang Pilipino memorial park to visit the tombs of relatives ahead of All Saints’ Day.
When a white Land Cruiser (PQS-904) suddenly overtook the Fortuner driven by the professor’s son, she told him to just move to another lane and avoid the other “reckless” driver.
But the Land Cruiser overtook them for the second time, and it became clear that it was part of a convoy that also included the silver Innova.
As the Innova appeared to be moving to also overtake the Fortuner, it instead ran side by side with the professor’s vehicle. It was at this point that a male passenger in the Innova rolled down his window and began hurling invectives at the professor’s son.
“Can’t you see that we’re escorting someone?!” the man said, according to the complaint.
The Innova then increased its speed and cut the path of the Fortuner. As both vehicles stopped in the middle of the road, the man got off the Innova, this time with a pistol in hand.
Seeing the gun, the professor yelled at the man that she had children onboard, prompting him to go back to his vehicle. The Innova then sped off.
“We just wanted a peaceful day,” the professor’s husband, also a UP professor, later told the Inquirer after learning about the incident from his wife.
According to the LTO records, the Land Cruiser is registered to Mactan Construction Supply, a company based on N. Domingo Street, San Juan City.
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