CEBU, Philippines - A video of another road rage incident showing a lad with a baseball bat threatening to kill another man that he had a traffic altercation with on Archbishop Reyes Avenue in Cebu City is making rounds on social media.
The 50-second cellphone video footage taken by the alleged victim Patrick Bitoy has been viewed over 2.6 million times since it was posted on his Facebook account Wednesday morning.
As of press time, the viral video has also garnered 12,000 reactions, 13,760 shares and 2,800 comments.
The alleged suspect, wearing a white t-shirt paired with black shorts, was seen in a video as he alighted from his vehicle carrying his blue baseball bat.
The young man then pointed his finger at Bitoy and cursed at him. He also threatened to kill Bitoy.
“Naug diha. Gago ka. Picturi ko. Patyon tika boanga ka,” the suspect, who has yet to be identified, was heard saying in the video.
But Bitoy opted to stay inside his car.
In a Facebook post, Bitoy narrated the incident.
“As I was driving along Archbishop Reyes Street near Grand Con, this vehicle with plate number #YKG837, probably on a 50 to 60km/h speed, overtook me and almost hit my car and some motorcycles in front of me. I always don't mind being cut as long as the driver does it properly, with signal light and with proper spacing. But in this case he literally came out of nowhere, he was driving fast that I startled when he appeared on my line of sight, was afraid of getting hit so I immediately turned my steering wheel to the left, encroaching the opposite lane.
“As a natural reaction of almost getting caught in an accident, I honked my horn and turned my headlights on high for 2 to 3 seconds just to let him know that there was someone at his rear who he got almost hit... which btw (by the way) could have caused a bigger accident if I was thrown to the other lane. He did "break tests" on me until we reached the top of the flyover/overpass,” read part of Bitoy’s 676-word post.
He said he was angry at the suspect and at the same time afraid that the latter might kill him.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a dash cam. I took my phone out and started recording as he was trying to provoke me with the loud noises of his car and his break tests... then he stopped... came out of his car carrying a baseball bat shouting "gago, patyon tika ron." I got my gear on reverse in case he'll try to hit my car with his baseball bat... I was also afraid he might pull out a gun and started shooting. Just wanted to avoid that big of a mess. Naglagot and nakuyawan nako, (I) tried to remain calm, (I) didn't open my door or my window... continued recording and waited for him to move out of the way,” he said.
The suspect later sped off ignoring the traffic lights, Bitoy said.
But to his surprise, Bitoy said, the suspect kept tailing him from Gorordo Avenue to Sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, where his home is located.
“Naka ginhawa nako...and thought that was finally over. I was heading home... He followed me to Banawa and stopped when I went on a small road going to my place. He might have thought basin tabangan siya didto mao wala siya nidayon. If he followed me I could have asked the security guards to protect me,” he said.
Bitoy said it is really important to stay calm while driving, especially when caught up in an adverse situation like his.
“It is always important to remain calm while driving, it could save your life from crazy people. I don’t’ know if he was drunk or what, but people like him should not be allowed on the road. (It was) very unsafe for everyone. As to the fate of his offensive actions, I leave it up to the authorities,” he said.
Revoked?
Meanwhile, Bitoy wants the driver’s license of the suspect revoked.
This according to City Councilor David Tumulak, deputy mayor on police matters, after he talked to Bitoy on Wednesday.
“Ang request sa victim is to suspend the driver’s license sa suspect. Paghatag lang og leksyon ba, dili siya gusto masubli pa,” he said, adding that the victim is set to submit the police blotter report to the Land Transportation Office.
The victim has no plans of filing charges against the suspect, but he wants the latter to apologize for the incident, said Tumulak.
Tumulak said the city government will assist Bitoy in whatever appropriate action to be taken against the suspect.
He said it was the directive of Mayor Tomas Osmeña after the latter read Bitoy’s Facebook post.
In March this year, a scion of a prominent Chinese Cebuano family was accused of shooting a nurse following an altercation along F. Sotto Street, Barangay Kamputhaw, this city.
David Lim Jr. allegedly shot Ephraim Montalbo Nuñal in right ankle and left thigh. A video capturing the road altercation and the shooting incident went viral.
After the incident, Lim left the crime scene. He surrendered to the police days after the incident. (FREEMAN)