Lessons in road rage

The “return” of convict Rolito Go to the Bureau of Prisons in Muntinglupa must have eased the problems of officials there, but they might not get off the hook so easily. Go had quite a story to tell about his alleged kidnapping by men who, he said, had claimed to be government agents. But even if he did show some injury, supposedly caused by his “kidnapper’s having hit him, the story is somehow a bit straining to the imagination.

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What is likely to happen is that he will be placed under maximum security for a while, and officials and guards involved will be threatened with sanctions and then things will go back to normal, that is, he will be given some of his privileges again, especially because he is said to be suffering from cancer. Maybe his family will ask that he be detained in a hospital, later? That is what most prisoners who can afford it resort to.

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The story of Rolito Go should be told over and over to other drivers so they will realize what could happen to them if they ever give way to what is now known as “road rage”. Go had gotten into an altercation with a student when he entered a one-way street, and that led to the shooting. Later it was mentioned in some of the reports on the case, that Go was in a bad mood that night because he had just quarreled with his wife. So he took it out on young Allan Maguan, who unfortunately for him, and more so for Go, was killed.

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Remember also the case of Jason Ivler, the nephew of talented singer and composer Freddie Aguilar? Until now, Ivler is detained and his trial for his “road rage” crime is still going on. Both Go and Ivler were unlucky, because the families of the persons they killed on the road were determined, and could afford to pursue the charges against them. Their stories should be constant reminders to drivers: Do not drive when you are drunk, and more so if you are angry. There is so much to lose.

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Why are there so many complaints coming from passengers of Air Philippines lately? Yesterday, a physician from Bacolod called up to complain about the problem of her daughter who is studying at a university in Manila, who was supposed to come home on August 25. She said AirPhil Manila called her daughter up to tell her that the flight had been cancelled. Since her daughter was too busy with her schoolwork, and, being new in Manila, especially with all the problems of floods and traffic, she asked her mother to make the arrangements for the change of schedule for her trip home.

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The lady doctor said she called up AirPhil Manila to set the new schedule on August 18, and the character who answered her at the airline telephone number 028559000 elicited from her all the information about her daughter’s ticket and all. After all that, the “agent” told her that she could not make the transactions for her daughter, that the girl must go to their office herself, or she (the mother) must go to their Manila office to do it! When she asked to talk to the supervisor, the “agent” as the person had identified herself, said not even the supervisor could act on that, and refused to connect her. By the way, the concerned parent is Dr. May Ann de Asis of Bacolod City.

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Now, what kind of airline service is that? I would have passed on that incident, if not for the fact that, only a few days ago, I learned about another bad experience, also with AirPhil, of a friend, another doctor – what a coincidence! Then it was Dr. Melissa Anglo, who also had a nerve-wracking incident at the Manila airport that, she said, almost caused her to suffer a stroke. Her complaint was also about the cavalier treatment she got from the airline staff. When she told us what happened, some of those present urged her to file charges against the company. I have not kept up with the developments, but I sure hope somebody up there steps in and does something. Many of us had high hopes for this airline that we thought would approximate its sister, PAL.

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I was somewhat relieved to hear from the two complainants that both these unpleasant experiences with Airphil involved their Manila Office. For sure they would never have happened here with Job Lamela heading the office. A pity he cannot teach those in Manila better P.R., if not manners.*

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