LTO: License revocation awaits BGC drunk driver

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, was furious after seeing the viral video of a driver who appears to be driving while under the influence (DUI) in BGC. The LTO says that the driver may face serious consequences for bragging about his irresponsible actions on social media, including the revocation of his driver’s license.

“Isa itong iresponsableng gawain na naglalagay sa alanganin ng buhay ng mga road users. Mabuti na lamang at hindi ito nagdulot sa isang aksidente,” said Mendoza.

(This is a very irresponsible action that may put other road user’s lives in jeopardy. Good thing that this did not end in an accident.)

“Hindi natin palalampasin ang mga ganitong asal sa kalsada. Kaya tayo ay nag-issue ng Show Cause Order laban sa may-ari ng sasakyan at driver nito,” he added.

(We will not let these irresponsible acts slip away. That’s why we’re going to issue a Show Cause Order versus the vehicle’s owner and the driver.)

In the SCO signed by LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division head, Renante Melitante, the registered owner and driver of the vehicle, a resident of Sta. Mesa Manila was asked to appear before the LTO Central Office on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

The SCO also mandated the owner and driver to submit a written explanation as to why he should not be held liable for cases of Reckless Driving (Sec. 48 of R.A. 4136), Driving While Under the Influence of Liquor or Narcotic Drug (Sec. 53 of R.A. 4136) and Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle pursuant to Sec. 27 (a) of R.A. 4136.

The maximum penalty for the offense is revocation of the driver’s license.

The investigation was in response to the viral video posted by a certain “Hombre Estu” entitled “drunk driving at bgc”. The incident happened on Sept. 23 along 7th Avenue at Bonifacio High Street.

Melitante said the driver was driving recklessly in the opposite direction of a one-way street and doing unsafe swerving maneuvers.

“Failure to appear and submit the written comment/explanation as required shall be construed by this Office as a waiver of your right to be heard, and the case shall be decided based on the evidence at hand. In the interim, your driver's license and the subject motor vehicle are placed on alarm pending this investigation,” the SCO read.