Maserati ‘road rage’ owner charged with assault, robbery

MMDA traffic enforcer Jorby Adriatico. Erwin Aguilon/Radyo Inquirer 990 AM

MANILA, Philippines—The traffic enforcer assaulted by a luxury sports car driver in Quezon City filed criminal charges against the suspect on Friday.

Jorbe Adriatico, a traffic constable of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), filed charges of serious physical injury, grave threat and assault upon an agent of authority against Joseph Russel Ingco, the identified owner of the blue Maserati Ghibli.

Adriatico also filed a robbery complaint since the suspect sped off with the enforcer’s cell phone worth P6,000, Chief Inspector Edilberto Nicanor, investigation chief of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Criminal Investigation and Det‎ection Unit, said in a phone interview.

Nicanor said all charges filed were bailable.

‎Earlier, Ingco issued a statement assuring that he will submit himself to the legal processes. Ingco, however, neither denied nor confirmed his involvement in the road rage incident.

On Thursday morning, the MMDA traffic enforcer was dragged by the Maserati driver from the intersection of G. Araneta and Quezon Avenues to Scout Chuatoco Street. The suspect also allegedly insulted and punched Adriatico.

The traffic enforcer was trying to catch the Maserati make an illegal turn using his cell phone camera. When the driver noticed him, the driver went back, grabbed Adriatico’s phone and mauled him.

When shown a picture of Ingco provided by the Land Transportation Office, Adriatico positively identified him as his attacker. -With report by Julliane Love De Jesus