'Kamote' rider loses license after social media stunt dodging NCAP

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Friday that it has preventively suspended for 90 days the driver’s license of a motorcycle rider who obscured his license plate to avoid detection under the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the move follows the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to crack down on reckless or “kamote” riders, in line with the instructions of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon.

The rider, a San Juan City resident, sparked outrage after posting a video on social media showing his license plate partially covered with packaging tape to block the last three letters, effectively dodging NCAP cameras. The video’s caption read: “NCAP? No problem, magaya nga.”

“This is a blatant disregard for the law. As DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon emphasized, the government will no longer tolerate such motorists,” Mendoza said in Filipino.

The LTO has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the registered owner of the motorcycle, notifying them of the license suspension and requiring them to appear before the LTO Central Office to explain why they should not face penalties. The agency is also investigating whether the registered owner was the one who committed the violation.

The SCO, signed by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante, orders the owner to bring the official receipt (OR), certificate of registration (CR), and documentation proving their affiliation with a ride-hailing network. The motorcycle has been placed under alarm to block all transactions while the investigation is ongoing.

The rider faces possible charges for violating Section 18, Paragraph 2 of Republic Act 4136 (Use of number plates) and may be deemed an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.