By Perla Lena
ILOILO CITY – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 6 (Western Visayas) released on Tuesday
show cause orders (SCOs) against five drivers and one jeepney operator for various violations committed during the Holy Week.
The SCOs were issued against Robert Alemania, the driver of the jeepney that figured in a vehicular incident on Black Saturday, and the operator, Maria Fe Gayamo.
Based on LTO records, the private jeepney was overloaded with 70 passengers, with some on top of the vehicle and others standing on the stepboard.
The driver lost control of the vehicle while passing along the curbed terrain of the downhill road in Barangay Dingle in Miagao, Iloilo.
Alemania and Gayamo were ordered to explain why the vehicle should not be placed on alarm. Additionally, Alemania was ordered to explain why he should not be banned from obtaining a driver’s license because of the incident.
The driver, upon verification with the LTO Information Technology System, has an expired student driver’s permit issued on Aug. 29, 2014.
“It was further discovered that you were never issued a non-professional driver’s license. Thus, at the time of the incident last 09 April 2025, you were driving without a valid driver’s license,” said the show cause order signed by LTO legal officer Tanya Lynne Diestro and Director Gaudioso Geduspan II.
Four other show cause orders were issued to public utility vehicle drivers who tested positive for illegal drugs during the “Oplan Harabas” of the LTO and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted in the Mohon and Ceres terminals in Iloilo City on April 15.
The urine samples subjected to confirmatory testing by PDEA also turned positive for illegal drugs.
Their failure to explain within five days of receipt of the order may result in the revocation or suspension of their professional driver’s license. (PNA)
