LTO suspends ‘kamote rider’ license for skirting NCAP

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Friday that it has issued a 90-day preventive suspension of the driver’s license of a motorcycle rider who was seen covering his license plate to avoid detection by the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II said the action aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to go after reckless riders, under the guidance of Department of Transportation (DoTr) Secretary Vince Dizon.

Mendoza expressed his disapproval of the San Juan City resident who advertised the illegal act on social media, apparently encouraging others to do the same.

“This is clearly a mockery of the law. As DoTr Secretary Vince Dizon said, the government will not tolerate motorists like this,” Mendoza said.

“We have already issued a show cause order against the registered owner of this motorcycle, informing him that his driver’s license is suspended for 90 days,” he added.

Mendoza disclosed that the investigation will determine if the registered owner was indeed the individual who covered the license plate.

The incident was detected by the LTO’s social media monitoring team after a viral Facebook video showed the last three letters of the license plate being obscured with packaging tape.

The Facebook post was captioned “NCAP? No problem, magaya nga.” The video featured a motorcycle with a back rider wearing a Move It helmet.

In its statement, the LTO said that the show cause order (SCO) — signed by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante — requires the registered owner to appear before the LTO Central Office and submit a written explanation as to why penalties should not be imposed.

The registered owner faces potential violations of Section 18 Para. 2 of RA 4136 (Use of number plates) and for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

“Furthermore, you are directed to bring the Official Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) of the subject motorcycle including your record as the official rider of the Move It Company,” the SCO read.

“Thus, it is also directed that his driver’s license be surrendered immediately on or before the scheduled hearing to reckon the said suspension,” it added.

The SCO also placed the motorcycle under alarm to prevent any transactions involving the vehicle while the investigation is ongoing.