ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES – A violent attack along B. Aquino Ave., or Diversion Road, in Mandurriao, Iloilo City is under investigation by police, who are considering the possibility that the incident might not be a case of road rage. Captain Val Cambel, Iloilo City Police Station 5 commander, stated that they are exploring other angles behind the attack and are not ruling out the possibility of mistaken identity.
The victims of the attack are all engineers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but Cambel mentioned that the incident is unlikely to be work-related. Instead, authorities suspect that it could be a case of mistaken identity, as the victims claimed to have no known enemies. One of the victims offered a possible angle behind the attack, but did not provide further details.
The incident, which occurred in the evening of January 8 and was caught on camera, involved a scooter rider repeatedly striking a Mitsubishi Strada pick-up with what appeared to be a piece of wood. The government-issued vehicle was driven by a DPWH engineer, with another engineer in the front passenger seat and a pregnant DPWH engineer in the back.
Mayor Jerry Treñas announced that he is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the assailant. He condemned the violent behavior, stating, “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in the City of Love.”
The victims claimed that the attacker approached their vehicle when the traffic signal turned red, unexpectedly striking their vehicle with what was initially thought to be a baseball bat. Further investigation revealed that the assailant may have used a piece of wood, based on the car’s damage. The pick-up truck’s prominent damage was only on the rain visor on the driver’s side, while other parts of the vehicle suffered shallow dents.
The driver sustained a hematoma on his arm as a result of the attack and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward, as they continue to investigate and search for the perpetrator.
In conclusion, the violent attack along B. Aquino Ave. in Iloilo City is being investigated by police who are looking into other possible motives than road rage. The victims, all engineers from the DPWH, claim to have no known enemies and Mayor Jerry Treñas is offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the assailant. The incident, caught on camera, saw a scooter rider repeatedly striking a government-issued vehicle, leading to injuries sustained by the driver. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.