Wilfredo Gonzales, the ex-cop who brandished and assaulted a cyclist in a viral video of a road rage incident in Quezon City, told lawmakers on Tuesday that his action was done as a form of self-defense.
Speaking before the Senate committee during the public hearing, Gonzales said he only pulled out a gun to protect himself from cyclist Allan Bandiola who was about to attack him. He also accused Bandiola of taunting and cursing him, to which the latter vehemently denied.
"Ang intensyon ko po nun, bumunot ako at nagkasa ng baril dahil pasugod po sya sa akin. Dinepensa ko lang po yung sarili ko. At 45 degrees lang po [ang baril]… ‘pag gusto lang natin i-disable yung tao if ever susugurin niya ako," he said.
However, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, who is the chairman of the committee, said Gonzales still violated the Revised Penal Code as it is still considered gun-toting.
"Kahit di mo tinutok, gun-toting pa rin. Pulis ka di ba? Once na may hawak kang baril, tinutok mo o hindi sa harapan ng tao, gun-toting yun," the lamwker said.
Gonzales then acknowledged the act and apologized, saying: "Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa parteng yun po, pambabatok ko at pagbunot ko at pagkasa ko [ng baril]."Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa lahat... Kasalanan ko po yun, nabigla po ako. Ang isip ko po nun, idepensa yung sarili ko dahil hindi naman ako ganoon kalakas. Galing na ako sa spine operation."
The video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting netizens to criticize Gonzales over his actions. This resulted in him losing his job in the Supreme Court, his firearms were revoked by the PNP, and his driver’s license was suspended for 90 days.
"Biktima rin ako rito e. Nawalan ako ng trabaho. Na-ano ako sa social media, mga anak ko, pamilya ko, na kung hindi naman sinuntok yung kotse ko, siguro yung bangga lang ho sa bumper ko, pagpapasensyahan ko na," he reiterated during the hearing.
Bandiola, who attended for the first time, admitted to the allegations that he became aggressive towards Gonzales but only because the latter hit him in the head.
"Normal reaction ko po 'yun kasi binatukan niya ko eh. Bumaba po ako ng bike... bakit niya ko binatukan eh, puwede naman niya ko kausapin ng maayos," the cyclist said.
