By Jennifer P. Rendon
Iloilo City has its own version of a road rage incident that happened evening of Jan. 8 along B. Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road) in Mandurriao district.
The incident, which was caught on camera, saw a scooter rider walloping a Mitsubishi Strada pick-up with what appeared to be a piece of wood.
Captain Val Cambel, Iloilo City Police Station 5 chief, said the pick-up truck was driven by an engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6.
It was not yet known if the vehicle was personally owned or government-issued.
Sitting on the front passenger side was another male DPWH engineer and on the back was a female DPWH employee.
According to the victim, the motorcycle rider just approached their vehicle when the traffic light turned red at around 6:20 p.m. on Monday.
Initially, he claimed that the assailant could have used a baseball bat.
But Cambel said given the vehicle’s damage, it is unlikely.
The pick-up truck’s prominent damage was only on the rain visor on the driver’s side.
Other parts of the vehicle only had shallow dents.
At the first strike, the pick-up driver said he unlocked the door in a bid to confront their attacker.
The motorcycle rider was also quick to open the door and whipped the driver with his weapon.
The driver suffered a hematoma on his arm.
The rider continued striking the vehicle until another rider cautioned him.
Cambel said that the suspect turned his ire at the said rider.
But before he could attack him, the traffic light turned green.
At that juncture, Cambel said there were members of the Iloilo City Mobile Force Company who were patrolling near the incident. Motorists informed them of the commotion.
While the rider-suspect was quick to flee, the pick-up truck stayed at the crime scene until police arrived.
The injured driver was taken to the nearby Healthway hospital.
The victim claimed that there was no apparent reason or cause for the suspect to attack them.
They also could not identify the rider since he was wearing a crash helmet
Cambel said they have yet to get the identity of the road rage suspect.
“That’s why, we are asking for those with dash cam that have captured the incident to help us,” he said.
Cambel said they’re also reviewing CCTV cameras in the area to help identify the suspect.
