Bite your tongue

Is it our turn to laugh and stick out our tongues? San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora presented Lexter Castro, alias "Boy Dila", to the public. He was caught on video using a water gun on a rider last June 24 during the San Juan festival in commemoration of St. John the Baptist. But as far as I know, it is already forbidden for anyone to douse water on persons on public roads because of the inconvenience it causes. Public transport passengers such as jeepneys, buses, tricycles, and pedestrians were helpless last June 24.

In the video, you can see Castro dousing the rider with a water gun, even sticking his tongue out as if mocking the helpless rider. But if the rider himself couldn't do anything, social media hit Castro hard. The video went viral the next day. Castro’s image was all over the dailies, websites, and social media. Mayor Zamora himself was "irked by what Castro did because of the shame he caused to the people of San Juan and their city”.

According to Castro, he received severe criticism not only on social media. He also stated that he and his family have received threats. He asked for forgiveness from Mayor Zamora as well as the public and asked not to threaten his family but only himself. He even cried at the press conference. I don't know if he will be held accountable in any way for the incident. He should just bite his tongue.

Many people forget that almost everyone has a camera these days. So, if wrongdoing is made on the streets or anywhere for that matter, chances are it will be caught on video. Then the cycle of “brave today, sorry tomorrow” ensues. That's often the way road rage incidents end up. Remember Wilfredo Gonzales, the former police officer who pulled out a gun because his car was hit by a bicyclist? A photo of him upset while cocking his pistol went viral and became the subject of many funny memes. Hopefully, his license is suspended, and can no longer own a gun.

Mayor Zamora promised to review the rules for the next Wattah Wattah Festival. One of them is the designation of a place where revelers can douse each other to their heart’s content. It will be closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic so that those who don't want to get wet can avoid the place. Let’s hope it can be implemented. The incident of “Boy Dila” isn’t the only outrageous incident that happened that day.