Senator JV Ejercito has called for stronger legal protections for motorists following the recent detention of a driver involved in an unexpected incident near the LRT-1 Fernando Poe Jr. Station.

In an online statement, Ejercito criticized the immediate arrest of the driver, stressing that presumption of innocence should not be removed simply because someone was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“It is not right to detain anyone who was not negligent or for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. “Our laws should not be a contributor to a string of bad luck. Madalas, sa kagustuhan na makahanap ng mga mapapanagot, naisasantabi ang katuwiran.”

The senator highlighted that this incident underscores the need for Senate Bill No. 338, also known as the Defensive Driving Protection Act, which aims to protect drivers from unjust detention and arbitrary legal cases.

The bill would allow motorists involved in road accidents to present evidence such as dashcam or CCTV footage to demonstrate that they were practicing defensive driving.

“Pairalin ang due process at hindi agad-agad ikulong ang mga driver na biktima rin, lalo pa kung may ebidensya silang magpapatunay sa aksidente, gaya ng dashcam o CCTV footage,” Ejercito added. “It is high time to update our policies, which are currently detrimental to the public.”

The proposed law defines defensive driving as a proactive approach to road safety that anticipates hazards and maintains safe distance and alertness.

It prevents law enforcement officers from detaining drivers who can provide credible evidence of safe driving practices, while still preserving the rights of other parties involved in accidents to pursue legal remedies.

The Defensive Driving Protection Act also allows authorities to collect personal information and impound vehicles as necessary, ensuring accountability while protecting drivers from immediate, arbitrary detention.