The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday, May 1, issued a show cause order (SCO) against a personnel of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) whose sports utility vehicle (SUV) got involved in a viral road rage in Silang, Cavite.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao said the SUV, a Mitsubishi Montero, was caught in a dashcam video grazing a motorcycle on its rear while the latter was stopped due to a red light.
A report from the LTO said the SUV driver allegedly attempted to leave the scene instead of stopping. This prompted other motorists to intervene, which led to a heated confrontation on the road.
Citing the motorcycle driver’s account, the LTO said the SUV driver introduced himself as a police officer but later verification confirmed he is a Marine.
“Instead of apologizing, he allegedly even threatened to file charges,” Lacanilao said. The LTO did not identify the SUV driver.
As such, the LTO, through its Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID), issued an SCO against the registered owner and designated driver of the SUV.
The agency ordered the registered owner/designated driver to appear before the IID at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7.
The driver/registered owner was required to submit a sworn explanation why he should not be administratively held liable for reckless driving (Section 48) and Failure to Render Assistance in Case of Accident (Section 55), both under Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines; and for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle.
The agency also placed the SUV under alarm status while the driver’s license of the Marine was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension and was ordered to be surrendered immediately.
Failure to attend the hearing would mean waiver of the right to be heard, the LTO said. It warned that the investigation would proceed based on available evidence.
“I will repeatedly remind everyone that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior on the road. The law is clear. Anyone who violates it will be held accountable,” Lacanilao said.