Drag racing on Marcos Highway caught on camera, police looking into identities of violators

Some motorists were caught on camera while taking part in drag racing in Antipolo City early Wednesday morning.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report on “24 Oras," GMA News anchor Connie Sison, who filmed the scene, said the incident took place along Marcos Highway.

Sison said this was the third time she witnessed a race in the area.

“Siyempre ang initial reaction ko—dahil hindi naman yun ang first kong ma-witness—parang naku may drag racing na naman’,” she said.

(Of course my initial reaction—because that wasn’t my first time I witnessed it—was ‘drag racing again.’)

Antipolo City Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel June Paolo Abrazado said the incident happened beyond a checkpoint, adding that drag racing on the highway has already been prohibited.

“Sa tingin ko… siguro nag-try lang ng isang beses. Pero paigtingin po ulit namin ang aming pagbabantay dito at hindi na ulit (sila) makakasingit dito sa aming area of responsibility,” he added.

(I think… maybe they just tried it once. But we will intensify our vigilance here and (they) will not be able to enter our area of responsibility again.)

Authorities are currently looking into the identities of those involved in the race.

Individuals caught participating in drag racing could face charges for violations of traffic rules such as speeding and reckless driving.

“Salamat po kay Ma'am Connie nakunan natin ng malinaw ang mukha ng suspek. Yung sa mga sasakyan may nakita tayong mga naka-attach na plates,” Abrazado said.

(Thanks to Ma'am Connie, we were able to clearly capture the suspect's face. We were also able to see the license plates attached to the vehicles.)

PNP Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) operations officer Police Colonel Reynante Reyes said that they will also investigate the incident.

“May mga isolated reports pero hindi talaga natin masasabing daily occurrence… at saka natutugunan naman natin every time we hear the information,” Reyes said.

(There are isolated reports, but we can't really say that this is a daily occurrence…  we respond every time we hear the information.)

According to the PNP-HPG, drag racing involves large sums of money and wagers that include vehicles. —Mel Matthew Doctor/VBL, GMA News