UP professor files charges against Bulacan mayor over road rage

Mayor Patrick Menesse with councilor Piccolo Meneses and their mother, Precy Meneses. Photo from Mayor Patrick Meneses’ Facebook Page

MANILA – “My family is shaken by the brazenness of these men,” recalled Inquirer publisher Raul Pangalangan who was recently involved in a road rage accident in Quezon City on Monday.

He was with his family – wife Elizabeth, son Miguel Enrico, 21, daughter-in-law Trizha O. Pangalangan and granddaughters aged 6 and 5 and two nannies when the incident happened.

Elizabeth, director of UP Law Center’s Institute of Human Rights, after learning the identities of the of the alleged offenders, filed a complaint at the National Bureau of Investigation against Bulacan Mayor Patrick Meneses and his mother.

Meneses, who used to be with Aiko Melendez is currently the partner of actress Ara Mina.

According to NBI Director Virgilio Mendez, he already assigned a division to conduct investigations following the filing of complaint.

He added that Meneses and his security will be invited to give their side of the incident.

Others named in the complaint include the mother of Meneses, Priscila, who is the listed owner of one of two vehicles involved in the incident, a silver Innova with Plate No. ZEL 124; one Joel Piñon; and several John Does.

Elizabeth said that she filed the complaint because Meneses’ mother refused to pinpoint and identify the names of the men whom they have encountered during the incident on Congressional Avenue Extension. She said that one of the men threatened her and her family by pointing a gun.

Initial police investigation showed that the man with a gun rode the Innova.

According to Priscila, her family owned the vehicles involved in the incident – the Innova and Landc Cruiser. However, she said that she was not in the vehicle and their security were not in there as well. She added that Patrick, her son and mayor of Bulacan town, Bulacan province was at the municipal hall at the time of the incident.

She said that the driver of the Innova was Joel Piñon.
“My son was not on board the vehicle and the convoy was on a personal errand when the supposed encounter took place,” she said.
She said that the plate number of the Land Cruiser was incorrect.

Elizabeth, in her complaint, said that she and her family were travelling and were on Congressional Avenue Extension on the way to Himlayang Pilipino when a white Land Cruiser moved to their lane, nearly hitting them.

Her 21-year-old son moved to the other land to avoid the “reckless” Land Cruiser.

The Land Cruiser tried to overtook the vehicle of the Panglangans for the second time when Elizabeth noticed the silver Innova following. She then realized that it was an escort vehicle.

“At that stage, I noticed that a silver Innova was following us closely. The Innova swerved into our lane and almost forced us off the road and onto the sidewalk,” she said.

The Innova drove alongside their vehicle and the driver brought his window down and began hurling tirades against Elizabeth’s son.

“Then the front passenger window of the silver Innova opened and a man started shouting invectives at our car and pointing his finger and repeatedly shouting invectives,” Elizabeth said.

She added quoting the man, “Can’t you see that we’re escorting someone? Get out of our way.”

The Innova picked up speed to cut their path, then the man got off and drew his gun and pointed it at them.

When Elizabeth saw the gun, she yelled at the man saying that there are children on board. The man returned to his vehicle and sped off.