Newly appointed Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao is facing his first major test after issuing a show cause order against the driver of a Lexus LX570 SUV carrying Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTr) Undersecretary Ricky Alfonso, which was involved in a viral road altercation.

The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed Alfonso’s driver and security aide confronting and allegedly slapping the driver of an Isuzu multicab during a traffic altercation. The luxury vehicle bore Protocol Plate No. 10, a designation reserved for justices of the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Office of the Solicitor General — categories Alfonso does not belong to.

Lacanilao confirmed that the show cause order was issued on 11 October, directing the driver to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident. He tasked Renante G. Melitante, chief of the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division, to lead the probe into potential violations of traffic and vehicle registration laws.

“The use of blinkers, sirens, and protocol plates is strictly regulated under existing laws and administrative orders. We will not tolerate any misuse of these privileges, especially by individuals who should serve as examples to the public,” Lacanilao said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Administrative Order No. 18, issued in April 2024, prohibits the use of sirens, blinkers, and similar signaling devices by government officials, except for law enforcement, emergency, or rescue vehicles.

The LTO emphasized that the driver must appear before the agency to explain why his license should not be suspended or revoked for violations related to the improper use of protocol plates and accessories.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez confirmed that Undersecretary Alfonso has apologized to the involved motorist and dismissed his driver following the incident.

However, Lacanilao stressed that apologies or private settlements do not exempt violators from administrative or legal accountability.

“The agency will continue to act decisively on incidents that undermine public trust in road safety enforcement and government integrity,” he added.

A police blotter report revealed that the SUV is registered to a private company based in Makati, not to Alfonso himself.

The viral incident has sparked public outrage, with netizens condemning the misuse of government privilege and what they described as a brazen display of abuse of power.