QUEZON CITY MAYOR Joy Belmonte has called on the cyclist implicated in a viral video in which he was seen being attacked by another motorist, Willie Gonzales, who pulled a gun on him.
“We are appealing to the complainant to come forward so that Willy Gonzales, whom I consider a menace to society, is held accountable. We want to assure the cyclist that we will extend legal assistance, as well as put him and his family in our protection so that justice is served,” Belmonte said on Monday, August 28.
According to a Rappler report, the cyclist was allegedly coerced by a former police officer to make amends with Gonzales.
Belmonte lamented that the victim could be afraid because Gonzales is a government employee.
“This culture of impunity is not acceptable in QC, and I have a duty and responsibility to maintain peace and order in our city and to send a strong message that acts such as those committed shall not be tolerated and that he must be held accountable,” Belmonte added.
Who is Willie Gonzales, the former cop who pulled a gun on a cyclist?
Wilfredo "Willie" Gonzales was identified as the man who pulled a gun on a cyclist in a video that has gone viral on social media. The 63-year-old Gonzales blamed the internet for depicting him in a bad light. "Parang napakasamang tao ko naman," he said in a press conference on August 27, 2023. Gonzales served in the Quezon City Police District for 20 years before retiring in 2016 when he turned 56—the mandatory retirement age for police officers.
Gonzales's latest altercation was not the first issue that hounded him. In 2006, Gonzales faced an administrative case for grave misconduct. But his case lingered until 2017 when the case resulted in his dismissal.
According to Rappler, Gonzales filed a motion for reconsideration but was junked in 2018, and his retirement benefits have been suspended since.
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