PNP to name Valenzuela road rage driver today

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will release today the name of the sport utility vehicle (SUV) driver who drew a gun on a taxi driver during a road rage incident in Barangay Punturin, Valenzuela last month.

City police chief Col. Salvador Destura Jr. said the PNP has informed the SUV driver’s family of the developments in the case.

The family has promised to convince the driver to surrender to authorities, Destura added.

Police located the taxi driver who figured in the incident. He will be given the opportunity to confront the suspect and provide his account of the event, according to Destura.

Gun license revoked

Earlier this month, the PNP said it had revoked the SUV driver’s firearms license.

Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information office chief, said on Friday that the SUV driver, whom she did not identify, must surrender his handgun after his license to own and possess firearm and permit to carry were revoked by the Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO).

Fajardo warned the motorist he will face charges of violating Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, if he does not comply.

“He no longer has the right to carry a gun and once we subject him to a police operation he would face charges,” Fajardo said in a news briefing at Camp Crame.

The motorist, who drove a Toyota Fortuner, threatened the taxi driver during a traffic altercation in Barangay Punturin on Aug. 29.

A video of the incident was posted by lawyer Raymond Fortun on his Facebook page.

Based on PNP records, Fajardo said the SUV driver has a 9mm handgun registered under his name. She said the FEO’s punishment is perpetual disqualification of the driver from owning a firearm.

Subpoena

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has subpoenaed the owner of the SUV that figured in the Valenzuela road rage incident.

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza said that it ordered the SUV’s owner, a woman, to appear during a hearing on Sept. 14, identify the gun-toting driver and explain why she should not be held liable for traffic violations.

The registration of the SUV, with license plate NBB-3135, was also suspended for 90 days, according to the LTO.

“We would like to know who was driving at the time of the incident. We would also like to find out if the vehicle had been sold or borrowed,” Mendoza said in a statement.

The SUV’s registered owner faces administrative liabilities for traffic offenses that include reckless driving, being an improper person to operate motor vehicles and obstruction of traffic, he added. — Emmanuel Tupas, Romina Cabrera