4 face raps over staged road rage shooting

MANILA, Philippines — Police are eyeing criminal charges against four persons who reportedly staged a road rage shooting in Marikina, which went viral on social media.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Yebra, director of the Eastern Police District (EPD), said he ordered an investigation of the incident, which happened along the Marikina River Park on Tuesday.

In the video uploaded by blogger Sir Nathan on Facebook, two motorcycle riders were seen blocking a vehicle, which was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident.

The blogger described the video as a social experiment.

Reports said an argument ensued between the motorcycle riders and the driver, who was with a female passenger.

The driver alighted from the vehicle and appeared to have shot one of the riders. He then boarded his vehicle and fled.

The video has since been deleted after it generated mostly negative reactions from netizens.

The EPD managed to get a copy of the video clip, which it is using in the probe.

Based on initial investigation by the Marikina police, Yebra said the incident was merely made up by the blogger based on the account of witnesses.

There was also no record of the incident in the blotter of the barangay, Yebra added.

Marikina police chief Col. Benliner Capil vowed to file charges against the blogger and his companions for spreading misinformation.

“If warranted, criminal charges will be filed against those responsible for the maliciously fabricated video,” Capil said.

He condemned the people involved in the video, which he said put the police in a bad light.