Ex-cop in road rage video apologizes for pulling out gun, claims self-defense

Wilfredo Gonzales, the former policeman who was in a viral video of a road rage incident in Quezon City, on Tuesday told lawmakers that he drew his gun on cyclist Allan Bandiola as a form of self-defense.

Facing the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Gonzales said he pulled out a gun to protect himself because Bandiola was about to attack him during their traffic altercation.

"Ang intention ko po noon, bubunot po ako at nagkasa ng baril dahil pasugod po siya sa akin. Kahit i-review po natin 'yung [video], inamin naman niya na susugod po siya," Gonzales said.

(My intention when I pulled out my gun was to defend myself, even if we review the video. He also admitted that he was going to attack me.)

"Dinepensa ko lang po ang sarili ko at 45 degrees lang po, alam niyo naman po 'yun. Naka 45 degrees lang po pag gusto lang natin i-disable 'yung tao if ever susugurin niya ako," he added.

(I just defended myself. It's just 45 degrees in case I want to disable the person if ever he attacks me.)

Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, chairman of the committee, said Gonzales' action is still a violation under the Revised Penal Code as it can still be considered gun-toting.

"But still, kahit 'di mo tinutok, gun-toting pa rin 'yun. Once may hawak ka ng baril, tinutok mo o hindi sa harapan ng mga tao, gun-toting 'yun. Revised Penal Code violation," Dela Rosa said.

(It's still gun-toting. Once you bring out a gun, even if you don't point that towards someone, that's gun-toting. That's a Revised Penal Code violation.)

Gonzales then apologized for his action even as he insisted that he just wanted to defend himself from Bandiola.

"Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa parte pong 'yun, 'yung pambabatok, pagbunot ko, 'yung pagkasa ko. Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa lahat, hindi lang po sa kanya, sa lahat po sa inyo," Gonzales said.

(I apologize for hitting Bandiola's head, for pulling out a gun. I apologize to everyone, not only to him.)

"Nabigla po ako eh. Kasi ang isip ko po noon idipensya ko ang sarili ko, hindi naman ako ganoon kalakas eh. Galing ako sa spine operation," he added.

(I was shocked. I was thinking of defending myself. I'm not that strong. I just had a spine operation.)

In response, Bandiola admitted that he became aggressive toward Gonzales after the former policeman hit him in the head. He said it was just "normal reaction."

"Normal reaction ko po 'yun kasi binatukan niya ko eh. Bumaba po ako ng bike... kaso lang po inano niya ko ng... bakit niya ko binatukan eh, puwede naman niya ko kausapin ng maayos," Bandiola said.

(That's my normal reaction because he hit me in the head. I stepped out of my bike... why did he hit me? He could have just talked to me.)

The video of the incident went viral on social media where Gonzales was seen pulling out a gun during an altercation after Bandiola's bicycle hit the former policeman's vehicle.

Gonzales earlier said he and Bandiola went to a police station following the incident and settled their differences.

Bandiola, during the hearing, admitted giving an initial P500 for the damage to Gonzales’ car.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News