Maserati driver eyes counter raps

MANILA, Philippines - Joseph Russel Ing-co, the driver of the blue Maserati Ghibli sports car who allegedly roughed up traffic enforcer Jurve Adriatico, will file counter charges belying the road rage incident in Quezon City last Tuesday.

In a statement released by his lawyer yesterday, Ingco said he will no longer report to the police for investigation and instead will file countercharges against Adriatico.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Friday filed a complaint of serious physical injuries, assault on person of authority and robbery against Ingco.

Lawyer Edgardo Padernal said Ingco did not go to the police because he felt the investigators have already prejudged him.

Instead, Ingco will answer all the allegations of Adriatico against him by filing countercharges of grave threats, physical injuries, libel and a civil suit for damages, according to Padernal.

QCPD director Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, however, belied Ingco’s claims.

He said they never prejudged Ingco and he should have aired his side when the investigation of the incident was ongoing.

In a statement, Ingco claimed Adriatico attacked him for no apparent reason and he only acted in self-defense.

Ingco maintained he did not violate any traffic rule, which is why he confronted Adriatico when he saw him taking a video on a cellphone.

According to Ingco, he shoved the cellphone but then Adriatico struck him in the face. He added Adriatico was holding onto his left arm while he was trying to free himself.

Ingco admitted striking Adriatico in the face while trying to free himself from his grip and drove off, dragging the traffic enforcer.

“I did not make an illegal left turn. I made a legal u-turn,” Ingco said in a statement.

During the confrontation, Adriatico asked Ingco: “Ano problema mo? (What’s the problem)” to which Ingco replied: “Is there a problem? I did not make the left turn, why is it you are taking a video of me?”

Ingco claimed Adriatico was stopping him and shouting at him.

“I think he was arrogant and abusive but he was not asking for my license. He taunted me with his cellphone in my face. And so I hit his cellphone and it fell. He got angry and hit me in the face,” Ingco said.

Ingco claimed Adriatico grabbed and wrestled with his arm. Adriatico allegedly scratched his arm while pulling his shirt.

“So I drive off slowly to escape from him. He did not want to let go of me. He kept on pulling on my shirt to get me out of the car. I drove off again but slowly so he will let go. If I wanted to hurt him, I would have driven very fast until he will fall. He did not let go of my arms so I tried to hit him only to escape. Then my shirt came off and I finally drove off,” Ingco said.

According to Ingco, he has no history or record of violence in his life.

“I am a peaceful person and my family was deeply hurt, especially my children, after reading all the TV and social media news,” he said.

Ingco was caught on video holding a traffic officer by his shirt and dragging him along the road out of the window of his blue Maserati Ghibli. The aide had flagged him down for a violation.

The video, shot by a fellow traffic officer, went viral, drawing the ire of the country’s vocal Facebook and Twitter mobs, and prompting city authorities to put up a P100,000 reward for information on the businessman’s whereabouts.

Social media users vilified Ingco, calling him a “road bully,” “liar” and “mauler.”

“This shows that social media can be a tool for justice,” said Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that employed Adriatico as a traffic enforcer.

“I am afraid for my safety. I am willing to face the consequences,” Ingco told GMA television, stuttering at some points during the interview.

Tolentino, however, doubted Ingco’s statements that it was Adriatico who first struck and threatened to kill him.

“There is the element of spontaneity. Adriatico’s statements was more spontaneous, which means it was not rehearsed,” he said.

Tolentino expressed dismay that Ingco is now claiming he was the victim of alleged harassment and that he will also be filing charges against Adriatico.

Tolentino noted Ingco went into hiding after the incident and may have rehearsed his alibi.

He added several people witnessed the incident.

He said Ingco, who was driving a sports car, could have just pushed a button to close the car’s window to prevent the traffic enforcer from attacking him.

The MMDA said Ingco made an illegal turn and when he noticed that he was being photographed and his video was being taken, he made a u-turn.

Tolentino vouched for Adriatico’s credibility, saying he had so far served an exemplary six years with the MMDA and was cited by police

for helping arrest street criminals.

“I think he’s telling the truth. He’s a credible guy and we stand by him,” he said.

Tolentino said video of the incident “affirms the truthfulness” of the traffic aide’s statement.

He also challenged Ingco to take a lie detector test if he is telling the truth.

Tolentino said he would help Adriatico pursue charges against Ingco and would oppose possible attempts at a settlement.

“Let’s move towards justice,” he said.

Tolentino said Adriatico, who has undergone surgery for a broken nose yesterday, is moving from one place to another for fear of his life.

“I still couldn’t sleep. The incident keeps playing in my head,” Adriatico, with a bandaged nose, told ABS-CBN yesterday.