The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday revoked the driver’s license of the survivor of the viral Marilaque Road “Superman stunt” after finding him guilty of being unfit to operate a motor vehicle.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II, said the decision was made based on the evidence and after hearing rider Rico Akmad Buyawan’s side as part of due process.
“The driver’s license that the government issues to motorists is a privilege that comes with a responsibility — that those who receive it must observe road safety and be responsible drivers at all times,” Mendoza said.
“Let this serve as a lesson to all motorists, especially motorcycle riders, that public roads are not proper for such activities as they put people’s lives in jeopardy,” he stressed.
The Marilaque Road accident involving Buyawan led to the death of the other rider, popular motovlogger John Louie Arguelles and injuries to at least six others who were looking on by the side of the road.
The incident happened on 8 January in the Barangay Cuyambay portion of the Marilaque Road in Tanay, Rizal.
In the viral video, Buyawan and Arguelles were seen performing the “Superman stunt,” lying prone on their motorcycles mimicking Superman in flight. Seconds later, Buyawan’s motorcycle cut into Arguelles’s bike and both ran off the road, throwing the riders off and running into onlookers.
Buyawan was found guilty by the LTO of reckless driving and unauthorized operation of a motor vehicle, leading to the revocation of his driver’s license.
Motorcycle riders are known to race and perform stunts on the twisting Marilaque highway, including leaning into the curves like professional Moto GP riders do on racetracks.
The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group and the LTO have been on cracking down on the Marilaque daredevils who seemed to enjoy playing a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities.