The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday said it has issued a show-cause order against the registered driver of a sports utility vehicle involved in a viral road rage incident against another motorist.
In a video posted on 29 January on the Facebook page of Visor, dashcam footage showed the respondent stopping in the middle of the road, prompting other motorists to repeatedly honk their horns as the vehicle remained at a complete stop.
The driver was then seen stepping out of the SUV, briefly returning to the vehicle to grab what appeared to be a drink, and throwing it at the car behind him before fleeing the scene.
“Grabe, nakakatakot po ang ginawa niya. Nasingitan ko lang siya nang naka-signal light ako, tapos ganyan na ang ginawa sa akin,” the sender told Visor.
“Di naman ako nagbaba ng windows para kausapin siya since natakot na din ako. Walang usap-usap, ganyan na ang ginawa niya. Ano po ba ang pwede kong gawin?” he added.
The LTO directed the respondent to appear before the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on 4 February and ordered him to submit a verified explanation on why he should not face administrative charges.
The driver may be charged with obstruction of traffic and being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle. Meanwhile, the vehicle owner may face charges related to the compulsory registration of motor vehicles.
The LTO also said the driver’s license may be suspended for up to 90 days once he is identified and ordered to surrender it to the agency on the day of the hearing, while the vehicle will be placed under alarm status.
“Kung hindi sila makakapunta sa tinakdang pagdinig at hindi magsusumite ng hinihinging komento o paliwanag, ituturing itong pagtalikod sa kanilnag karapatan na madinig ang kanilamg panig at ang kaso ay papasiyahan batay sa mga ebidensyang nakalap,” the LTO said.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said the behavior seen in the incident compromised public safety and urged the public to cooperate by reporting traffic violations.
“Ang ganitong uri ng pag-uugali ng mga driver at pagpapabaya ng mga may-ari ng sasakyan ay hindi katanggap-tanggap at hindi natin papayagan na makompromiso ang kaligtasan at kaginhawahan ng mga mamamayan,” Lacanilao said.
“Hinihikayat din natin ang publiko na patuloy na makipagtulungan sa atin sa pamamagitan ng pag-uulat ng mga labag sa batas sa trapiko, ngunit tiyaking gagawin ito sa ligtas at lehitimong paraan,” he added.