LTO issues show-cause order against government employee caught hitting fellow motorist
The Land Transportation Office has issued a show-cause order against a government employee caught on video arguing and hitting a fellow motorist.
Based on LTO's show cause order released on its Facebook page on Jan. 21, the employee was driving a Toyota Innova and had intentionally stopped in the middle of the road to "physically [assault] and verbally [harass] an e-bike driver.
Another motorist's video, which went viral on social media, shows the employee in question arguing with the e-bike driver, who can be seen sitting on his vehicle.
At one point, the e-bike driver points at the red plates on the government employee's SUV and says, "Tingnan mo, o. Nagtatrabaho ka sa gobyerno."
"Kahit na," replies the government employee, adding a slur.
"Kayo na 'yung mali, kayo pa 'yung nagagalit," says the motorist.
"Ikaw ang mali," the government employee yells, then punches the driver's arm.
LTO has summoned both the Innova's driver, as well as the SUV's registered owner, to the LTO's Intelligence and Investigation Division in Quezon City on Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. Prior to their appearance, they are to submit a verified or sworn comment/explanation why the agency should not place administrative charges against him for obstruction. Additionally, the driver was ordered to explain why his driver's license should not be suspended or revoked, under R.A. 4136, for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.
In the meantime, the SUV driven by the government employee has been placed under alarm, forbidding any transactions while the investigation is ongoing. Additionally, the license of the involved driver is now under a 90-day preventive suspension. He has been ordered to surrender his license once he receives the show cause order.
If the driver fails to respond to the order, LTO will take it to mean he is waiving his right to be heard, and the case will proceed based only on the evidence and documents at hand.
Along with the order, LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said, "Ang mga empleyado ng gobyerno ay inaasahang magiging huwaran ng mabuting pag-uugali at paggalang sa batas, lalo na sa mga pampublikong daanan. Walang makakalusot sa insidenteng ito at ang nararapat na proseso ng paglilitis ay gagawin ng tama."
