Bill seeks to put the brakes on road rage
A measure that seeks to impose stiffer penalties and jail terms of up to 12 years on a person involved in road rage is gaining support in the House of Representatives.
House Deputy Majority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is the main author of House Bill 8991 or “An Act penalizing Acts of Road Rage and for other Purposes,” also known as “Anti-Road Rage Act.”
The bill got the support of the members of the House Committee on Transportation chaired by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.
Under the bill, any person who engages in road rage, which result to death shall be imprisoned for six to 12 years and a fine not less than P250,000 but not more than P500,000 exclusive of all the damages incurred, at the discretion of the court.
“We will not condone road rage in our streets,” Tulfo said in his sponsorship speech during the committee hearing.
“We are all aware that the consequences of road rage are dire, often resulting in altercations, property damages, assaults, and collisions that cause physical injuries even death” Tulfo added.
According to the Metro Manila Development Authority, a significant portion of the 72,000 road crashes that occurred in Metro Manila in 2022 were linked to road rage.
“Despite all these, there is no existing legislation that imposes penalties on those who exhibit road rage,” Tulfo noted.
Other authors include ACT-CIS Party-list Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo and two other lawmakers — Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo.
Meanwhile, Davao de Oro Rep. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, who filed a similar bill also supported the ACT-CIS Party-list bill, as he recommended the consolidation of the five bills filed on road rage.
“Walang klarong batas po doon sa road rage, kaya ang daming nangyayari. So yun lang po ang diperensya namin (to Rep. Tulfo’s bill) sa degree, bracketing of the degree as to imprisonment of penalty po,” Gonzaga said.
The three other House bills related to road rage were filed by Bulacan Rep. Florida Robes, Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas and Iloilo city Rep. Julienne Baronda.
