THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) vowed intensified monitoring and visibility from its Traffic Enforcement Unit and police auxiliaries to curb the alarming rise in road rage incidents, several of which have recently turned fatal.
The DCPO also issued a strong reminder to drivers to remain calm on the road. The move comes after two recent violent altercations on the street.
In the most recent incident on Sunday, July 6, a road rage near the Matina Crossing traffic light escalated into a stabbing, leaving a taxi driver wounded. The suspect, a habal-habal driver identified as alias Ryan, was apprehended in a hot-pursuit operation.
On July 2, a dispute over a parking space at Ponte Verde, beside Sta. Lucia Mall in Barangay Communal, tragically resulted in the death of one taxi driver and the immediate arrest of another.
The suspect, 36-year-old taxi driver alias John, allegedly stabbed alias Ramil multiple times with a gaff during a fistfight that stemmed from a verbal argument.
Officer-in-Charge Col. Mariano Rodriguez has instructed the Traffic Enforcement Unit to focus on the areas with reported road rage incidents, including the Davao City Coastal Road and national highways.
“We are also reminding our drivers, as we observe that drivers are now involved in road rage, sometimes they kill their opponents,” said DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero on Wednesday during the Davao Peace and Security press briefing held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, referring to the recent incidents where a gaff and scissors were used.
“We remind them that if there’s a fight on the road, let’s not take the law into our own hands. If there’s a problem, there’s a solution. We drivers earn a living for our families, but these incidents result in problems,” Caballero said.
The DCPO also urged concerned citizens to prioritize calling 911 or their local police station hotlines instead of solely recording incidents.
“Although there are police in some areas, we are also thankful to concerned citizens who help our uniformed personnel settle or pacify what they see on the road,” the spokesperson added.
Taxi operators are also being advised to remind their drivers not to give in to anger or frustration while on the road.
The DCPO emphasized a protocol for road rage incidents in public places: hold the situation and immediately call the police for a blotter report to prevent further escalation.
The spokesperson cited the Matina Crossing incident, where police auxiliaries and bystanders attempted to pacify those involved, but the situation worsened beyond the stoplight.
The intensified monitoring and public reminders aim to prevent further violence and ensure the safety of motorists and the public on Davao City’s roads.
