Road rage suspect may lose gun permit

MANILA, Philippines - A road rage suspect, who was caught on video pointing a gun at a taxi driver during a traffic altercation in Quezon City last week, is facing revocation of his gun license.

Chief Superintendent Virgilio Lazo, director of the Philippine National Police-Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP), said yesterday the Quezon City Police District has yet to identify the driver of the Mercedes Benz who threatened to shoot Glen Remetio, 43, of Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City.

Remetio has filed charges of grave threats, physical injuries and malicious mischief against the suspect.

Authorities have urged the driver of the sport utility vehicle to come forward and air his side.

Lazo said once the identity of the SUV driver is known, the PNP could process the cancellation of his gun license.

“From our end, we can check with the investigators the progress of the case. The moment the suspect has been identified, we will recommend the cancellation or revocation of his permit if that (gun) is licensed,” he said. “Assuming he has a gun license, we will move for the cancellation.”

Reports said the incident, a video of which has been spreading online, happened on July 25 at the EDSA-Santolan flyover in Quezon City.

The video shows a Mercedes Benz parked in front of Remetio’s cab (UVN 607), and the SUV driver, in a blue shirt and denim pants, accompanied by an elderly man in white, standing outside Remetio’s shattered driver’s window and arguing with the cabbie inside.

The video, four minutes and 16 seconds long, was apparently taken by a bus passenger stuck in traffic caused by the incident.

Voices of horrified bus passengers are heard in the video.

Lazo said that under Section 39 of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition, the PNP chief or his authorized representative may revoke or suspend the gun license of a person involved in a crime.

But he said investigators should not base their probe solely on the video uploaded on the Internet.

SUV owner traced

The SUV has been traced to a company in San Juan, Superintendent Ramon Pranada, chief of the Quezon City Police District Station 7, said.

Pranada said the SUV is registered under Primex Development Corp., with business office at 19 Annapolis street. 

He said they would coordinate with the company to identify the motorist.

Pranada said the incident started along the Cubao underpass where the SUV driver and Remetio tried outrunning each other. 

When they reached Santolan flyover, the cab purportedly grazed the SUV.

The cabbie was seen in the video holding a screwdriver. As he tried to step out, the SUV driver kicked the cab’s door.

Remetio got out of his vehicle to confront the SUV driver but the latter pulled out a gun and pointed it at him.

The altercation ended with Remetio stepping away and the SUV driver and his passenger returning to their vehicle.

In his complaint, the cabbie claimed that the suspect punched him through the glass window.