LTO suspends license of SUV driver in road rage incident

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced Monday it has suspended for 90 days the driver’s license of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) driver seen in a viral video intentionally ramming a motorcycle rider.

LTO Acting Assistant Secretary and chief Greg G. Pua Jr. disclosed that the SUV driver has been instructed to surrender his license by 30 July.

“Both his driver’s license and the license plate of the vehicle involved in the incident were already placed under alarm to prevent any and all transactions while under investigation,” Pua said.

The case originated from a viral video showing a Changan SUV driver intentionally hitting a motorcycle rider during an apparent road rage confrontation, dragging the rider for several meters.

The suspect, who initially identified himself as an agent of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) under the name Paul John Jimenez, was later arrested by genuine NBI agents and identified as Jay-ar Cabana. The NBI confirmed the suspect had claimed to be an agent during the confrontation.

In a show cause order (SCO), Pua directed the driver to explain why he should not be held liable for operating a motor vehicle with unauthorized accessories, reckless driving, and for being an “Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle,” a violation of Section 27 (a) of Republic Act 4136.

The SCO warned that “failure to appear and submit the written comments/explanations as required shall be construed by this Office as a waiver of your rights to be heard, and the case shall be decided based on the evidence at hand.”