Provocation

If the account of the wife of road rage suspect Edward Erasmo is to be believed, there was sufficient provocation for Erasmo to fly into a rage and smash the window of the taxi unit driven by Christopher Labor.

Erasmo’s wife Evita alleged that Labor intentionally hit the left side of their car just as they were headed to an auto shop. Then Labor allegedly hit Erasmo’s car at the back just as they stopped at a traffic light, which caused Erasmo to get out of the vehicle and confront Labor.

In a Facebook message sent to Cebu Daily News, Evita claimed that Erasmo first calmly asked Labor why he hit their vehicle, but Labor allegedly ignored him, provoking Erasmo to smash the taxi window.

Erasmo is said to be in Manila now, and a P10,000 cash reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest. Evita has a point in saying that Labor should also be investigated by the police.

Better yet, both Erasmo and Labor should be investigated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to determine the truth of the incident and see if Erasmo alone bears accountability or both men are at fault.

Evita’s appeal should not be ignored if only for the fact that her children are supposedly being harassed on social media. Despite her account, few details in the police investigation on Erasmo didn’t bode well for his character.

Erasmo supposedly had a history of violence and made constant transfers of residence for failing to pay some debts. But until he appears and faces the music, Erasmo will continue to be hunted and that’s not going to be good for him and his family.

No thanks to the government’s inability to decongest traffic, one can expect more road rage incidents to occur in the near future. In fact, maybe it’s time for the country’s transport agencies to record the number of road rage cases to see if this has become an epidemic of sorts due to the ever-worsening traffic congestion in the country.

One may draw the conclusion that road rage incidents and traffic congestion are related without sufficient study, but one has to ask the obvious question of whether a driver’s temperament and mind-set would be greatly improved if there is better traffic.

Due to the traffic congestion, more motorists and passenger utility vehicles (PUVs) have to be creative in going for shortcuts and even avoiding traffic violations just to reach their destinations on or ahead of time.

That said, what happened between Erasmo and Labor along Pope John Paul II Avenue in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, last October 17 should not justify resorting to violence in that situation.

Erasmo should face whatever charges will be filed against him not only for his sake but for his family who is affected by what he did, which should not be the case.