Ex-town councilor hurt in road rage; LTO-NIR probes rider

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Land Transportation Office–Negros Island Region is probing a road rage incident in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, Negros Occidental, on Sunday that left a 67-year-old former town councilor injured.

The agency is set to issue a show cause order to a 30-year-old motorcycle rider identified only as “Pat” from Silay City, directing him to explain why his driver’s license should not be suspended, revoked or subjected to other administrative sanctions for his involvement in the incident.

Police Capt. Honey Labaro, chief of the Murcia Municipal Police Station, said the victim, identified only as “Luing,” and the rider were traveling in the same direction when the rider became irked after he was reportedly almost hit by the victim’s car.

The rider reportedly shouted at the victim until he overtook the vehicle and blocked its path, according to Labaro.

Labaro said the rider then allegedly assaulted the victim by punching him in the face.

The victim, who previously served as a councilor in Murcia, as well as a barangay captain and president of the Association of Barangay Captains, is recovering in a hospital in Bacolod City.

The rider allegedly told police that he was unable to control his temper after believing the victim had tried to cut him off on the road, triggering the confrontation.

Police filed a criminal complaint for physical injuries against the rider on Monday.

In a media interview, the rider admitted hitting the victim once out of anger.

He apologized for his actions and acknowledged that what he did was wrong.

He also expressed remorse.

The rider’s mother also apologized for her son’s actions.

She said the victim is a Transportation Network Vehicle Service driver in Iloilo and had just gone home to the province to celebrate her 50th birthday.