LTO places QC councilor’s three-wheeled vehicle under alarm

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a show-cause order (SCO) against a Quezon City councilor after video footage surfaced showing the elected official operating a three-wheeled motorcycle on a public road without a protective helmet.

Agency officials confirmed the order stems from video evidence showing the councilor riding a Can-Am motorcycle during a community patrol alongside barangay officials in Quezon City while omitting standard headgear required by national traffic safety regulations.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao ordered the issuance of the directive against both the registered owner and the operator of the motor vehicle.

The order instructs both parties to present sworn statements and supporting documentation before the LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division on 22 October 2026.

The operator faces formal charges under Republic Act 10054, known as the Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets Act.

Agency officials stated the operator’s driver’s license faces potential suspension or revocation if investigators determine the individual is an improper person to operate a motor vehicle under statutory standards.

Under preliminary administrative procedures, the rider’s license is subject to a 90-day temporary suspension upon submission to investigators, while the three-wheeled motorcycle has been placed under active alarm status within the agency’s registry.

“Patrolling to maintain order in the community is not a reason to disregard traffic laws,” Lacanilao said. “Regardless of one’s duties on the road, everyone must wear a helmet and follow traffic rules for their own safety.”

Transportation officials stressed that public officers tasked with enforcing community order maintain equal responsibility to adhere to motor vehicle regulations and urged citizens to submit documentation of traffic infractions to appropriate enforcement units.