By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended drivers who got into a fistfight during a road rage incident in Calamba City, Laguna on Sunday.
In a statement on Wednesday, LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, said the driver of a Yamaha Mio motorcycle and the driver of an L300 van are both temporarily suspended from driving following the incident that went viral on social media.
Show-cause orders were issued to the registered owners and drivers of both vehicles, and they were summoned to appear before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on May 20 to explain why they should not be made liable for administrative charges.
The charges include “reckless driving, improper person to operate a motor vehicle,” and for the owner of the Mio, “compulsory registration of motor vehicles.”
“Ipinailalim na sa alarm status ang parehong sasakyan. Inaatasan din ang mga drayber na isuko ang kanilang lisensya sa IID, na kasalukuyang nasa ilalim ng 90-araw na preventive suspension (The vehicles are placed under alarm status, and the drivers are ordered to surrender their licenses to the IID while they are under the 90-day preventive suspension),” Lacanilao said.
He warned the public against bringing conflict to the streets through road rage.
“Ang road rage ay hindi simpleng argumento. Ito ay seryosong banta sa kaligtasan ng lahat. Walang puwang ang karahasan sa ating mga lansangan. Ang sinumang mapatunayang lumabag ay mananagot sa ilalim ng batas (Road rage is not a simple argument. It is a serious threat to everyone’s safety. There is no space for violence in our streets. Whoever is proven to have violated the law will be held liable),” Lacanilao said.
He noted that refusal to participate in the LTO’s investigations and summons in such incidents is considered as waiving the right to be heard, and their investigation will continue without the input of those involved.
“Muling pinaalalahanan ng LTO ang publiko na panatilihin ang disiplina at mahinahong pag-uugali sa kalsada, dahil ang bawat desisyon ng motorista ay maaaring magdulot ng panganib hindi lamang sa sarili kundi sa kapwa (The LTO once again reminds the public to maintain discipline and calm behavior on the road, because every decision of a motorist can cause danger, not only to themselves, but also to others),” Lacanilao said. (PNA)
