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Cyclist In Viral Road Rage Incident Testifies Before Senate Committee
Screengrab from Senate of the Philippines
Allan Bandiola, the cyclist at the center of the viral road rage incident that occurred on August 8, appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 to testify about the highly publicized altercation. In a contentious hearing, Bandiola confirmed his account of events, which sharply contradicted the narrative put forth by the red sedan driver, identified as Gonzales.
According to Bandiola's testimony, he was riding his bicycle in the designated bike lane on August 8 when Gonzales, the driver of a red sedan, allegedly attempted to enter the bike lane. This initial incident led to a heated exchange between the two parties.
Gonzales accused Bandiola of punching his car, making obscene gestures, and verbally abusing him before the altercation escalated into a viral video. He even claimed that Bandiola was wearing gloves with hard knuckles, which raised skepticism among the senators.
However, when presented with the viral video evidence, it became apparent that Bandiola was not wearing the alleged gloves with hard knuckles, leading Senator Bato Dela Rosa to express disbelief in Gonzales's claims. Dela Rosa emphasized that such gloves were unnecessary for a cyclist and warned against manufacturing false stories.
In an attempt to clarify his actions, Gonzales apologized during the hearing, expressing regret for resorting to violence. He explained, "I ask for forgiveness from all of you. I couldn't control myself because our chase was getting long, and it hurt me deeply to have my car hit and to be insulted."
Senator Bato Dela Rosa threatened to have Gonzales imprisoned if he did not provide accurate information during the proceedings.
Bandiola, on the other hand, denied Gonzales's accusations. He described how he was initially in the bike lane and tapped the car's side when Gonzales attempted to enter the lane, seeking to get the driver's attention. Bandiola testified that the physical altercation occurred only after Gonzales confronted him outside of the car.
Bandiola said, "I may have lightly tapped his car's side to get his attention because he had swerved into my path. When we reached the intersection, that's when he suddenly struck me, but I managed to shield myself with my helmet. It's a normal reaction for anyone to defend themselves in such a situation."
The situation eventually de-escalated after both parties reached an agreement. Bandiola admitted to offering an initial payment of 500 pesos as compensation for any damages to Gonzales's car. The two reconciled, with Gonzales apologizing for his actions.
Bandiola recounted the resolution, saying, "Gonzales said, 'I'm sorry for what I did,' and that's when we settled things. We shook hands, hugged, and I even asked a police officer about my safety on my way home. He assured me there would be no issues."
According to Bandiola's testimony, he was riding his bicycle in the designated bike lane on August 8 when Gonzales, the driver of a red sedan, allegedly attempted to enter the bike lane. This initial incident led to a heated exchange between the two parties.
Gonzales accused Bandiola of punching his car, making obscene gestures, and verbally abusing him before the altercation escalated into a viral video. He even claimed that Bandiola was wearing gloves with hard knuckles, which raised skepticism among the senators.
However, when presented with the viral video evidence, it became apparent that Bandiola was not wearing the alleged gloves with hard knuckles, leading Senator Bato Dela Rosa to express disbelief in Gonzales's claims. Dela Rosa emphasized that such gloves were unnecessary for a cyclist and warned against manufacturing false stories.
In an attempt to clarify his actions, Gonzales apologized during the hearing, expressing regret for resorting to violence. He explained, "I ask for forgiveness from all of you. I couldn't control myself because our chase was getting long, and it hurt me deeply to have my car hit and to be insulted."
Senator Bato Dela Rosa threatened to have Gonzales imprisoned if he did not provide accurate information during the proceedings.
Bandiola, on the other hand, denied Gonzales's accusations. He described how he was initially in the bike lane and tapped the car's side when Gonzales attempted to enter the lane, seeking to get the driver's attention. Bandiola testified that the physical altercation occurred only after Gonzales confronted him outside of the car.
Bandiola said, "I may have lightly tapped his car's side to get his attention because he had swerved into my path. When we reached the intersection, that's when he suddenly struck me, but I managed to shield myself with my helmet. It's a normal reaction for anyone to defend themselves in such a situation."
The situation eventually de-escalated after both parties reached an agreement. Bandiola admitted to offering an initial payment of 500 pesos as compensation for any damages to Gonzales's car. The two reconciled, with Gonzales apologizing for his actions.
Bandiola recounted the resolution, saying, "Gonzales said, 'I'm sorry for what I did,' and that's when we settled things. We shook hands, hugged, and I even asked a police officer about my safety on my way home. He assured me there would be no issues."
Sep 5, 2023
