EDITORIAL - Disdain for the law

As authorities searched for missing road rage killer Rolito Go the other day, a video went viral on the Internet. The video footage showed a tobacco company executive venting his rage on a hapless traffic enforcer of the Metro Manila Development Authority. Philip Morris Philippines human resources manager Robert Blair Carabuena was caught on video berating and physically assaulting MMDA Traffic Constable Saturnino Fabros.

The traffic enforcer reportedly accosted Carabuena for running a red light at the corner of Capitol Drive and Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City last Saturday. The video footage showed Carabuena, with a man identified as his brother Benjamin standing beside him, scolding the traffic aide. Fabros was seen being slapped on the head with his MMDA cap, and then being slapped twice more with Carabuena’s bare hands.

Fabros did not fight back. Fortunately for him, a TV5 employee was right at the scene, recording everything on video from inside his own vehicle, including images of Carabuena’s Volvo and license plates.

One can understand the traffic aide’s hesitation to fight back: two burly men in a Volvo (plus a third man in the car) may very well be armed, and Fabros, a widower, has six daughters to worry about in case harm comes to him. When even a Manila motorcycle cop is gunned down in broad daylight while doing his job, and the murderer manages to get away, Fabros has every reason to worry about his safety in the performance of his duties.

But Fabros must get justice, or else such arrogance and disdain for the law will become the norm. Criminal charges for assaulting a person in authority have been filed against Carabuena. He is not the first motorist to disregard traffic rules and think he cannot be touched by traffic enforcers. Even drivers of trucks, buses and other large vehicles routinely ignore traffic cops who try to pull them over when they run a red light or break other traffic rules. This anarchy will stop only if the public gets a clear message that those who break the law will pay for it.