Motorist to lose driver's license for shooting enforcer

MANILA, Philippines - Following the encounter between motorist Robert Blair Carabuena and traffic enforcer Saturnino Fabros, another motorist may lose his license for allegedly shooting a traffic enforcer last year.

In a Sept. 5 letter to Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region director Teofilo Guadiz III, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked him to order the “suspension or cancellation of the driver’s license” issued to Edward John Gonzalez.

Gonzalez has been charged with direct assault upon a person in authority with frustrated murder before the Mandaluyong regional trial court for the attack on enforcer Larry Suganob.

Records of the case state the incident happened at past 3 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2011 when Suganob apprehended Gonzalez, then driving a black Nissan Frontier pickup (WMD-505) along Edsa-Santolan, for violating the vehicle coding scheme.

Gonzalez allegedly ignored the enforcer and sped off. Suganob boarded his motorcycle and chased him until they reached Florida street in Mandaluyong and the enforcer blocked the pickup truck.

Based on the resolution of the city prosecutor’s office, a confrontation ensued between the two men, until the motorist went back to his vehicle, got his gun, and allegedly shot Suganob several times before fleeing.

Suganob survived the attack after being treated at a hospital. MMDA personnel traced Gonzalez, who was eventually arrested.

“After evaluating the evidence adduced, the undersigned prosecutor finds probable cause to indict respondent for direct assault with frustrated murder…. The intent to kill is manifest as complainant suffered multiple gunshot wounds in vital parts of his body,” Prosecutor Josyli Tabajonda said in a resolution dated Sept. 8, 2011.

A similar case for direct assault was filed by Fabros against Carabuena before the fiscal’s office in Quezon City for their encounter this year, a video of which has gone viral online. There is also a pending request for the cancellation of Carabuena’s license before Guadiz’s office.