Bato dela Rosa wants ‘higher punishment’ for road rage aggressors

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said motorists who are involved in road rage incidents should face higher punishment, specifically reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years imprisonment.

“Ilagay natin [ang] road rage ang higher na punishment, parang drunk driving — mas mataas ang penalty niyan as compared to reckless driving or ibang violation [related sa] driving,” Dela Rosa told reporters on Tuesday.

(Let’s put road rage in the higher punishment category like drunk driving — the penalty is higher as compared to reckless driving or other violations related to driving.)

When asked what the specific penalty should be, Dela Rosa said reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years of imprisonment.

“Ano ba ang pinaka mabigat [na penalty?] Para maiwasan [ito or for] deterrence purposes ay reclusion perpetua.”

(What is the heaviest penalty? To avoid this or for deterrence purposes, the penalty should be reclusion perpetua.)

Dela Rosa made this suggestion following the Senate’s investigation into the viral road rage case in Quezon City involving former police officer Wilfredo “Willie” Gonzales and cyclist Allan Bandiola.

During the chamber’s probe into the viral altercation incident, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said a special law on road rage must be crafted to protect the public from all kinds of harm on the road.

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