Photo from Land Transportation Office-Philippines Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — The driver’s license of a motorcycle rider caught in a viral video nearly hitting a cyclist on the road has been revoked by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for “multiple violations of road transport rules,” the agency said.
In a video uploaded by mobility website Visor, the rider identified as Romeo Morales was riding his motorcycle when he almost hit a cyclist along a designated bike lane in Quezon City.
“The former [Morales] attempted to overtake with complete disregard for safety, resulting in a heated argument,” the LTO said in a statement on Tuesday.
LTO said the Department of Transportation Road Sector directed the agency to identify and hold the motorcycle driver accountable for his demeanor.
Upon verifying the driver’s information, the LTO said it issued a show-cause order, directing the registered owner of the vehicle and the assigned driver to report to the Intelligence and Investigation Division for a hearing last June 24.
“Morales confirmed his identity as the driver at the time of the incident,” LTO said.
The LTO said Morales is facing multiple violations after being found administratively liable for reckless driving and obstruction of traffic.
These are prohibited under Sec. 48 and Sec. 54 of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, according to the LTO.
LTO said it revoked Morales’ professional driver’s license for being “an improper person to operate a motor vehicle” and pursuant to Section 27 of Republic Act 4136.
The agency also ordered Morales to transfer the ownership of the subject motorcycle under his name within 20 days under Section 8 of Republic Act 10883. It imposed respective fines of P2,000 and P1,000 for his violations.
For his part, the cyclist, Raymond Estoque Tungcab, said he is hopeful that revoking Morales’ license would serve as a lesson to other drivers.
“Maging leksyon din po sana sa ibang mga driver ‘yung nangyari doon sa rider. Kasi ako driver din ako eh, bike to work ako araw araw. Mahirap may kasabay na ganyan na klaseng driver sa kalsada,” he said in a message with INQUIRER.net.
(I hope this becomes a lesson to other drivers about what happened to the rider. Because I’m also a driver, I bike to work every day. It isn’t easy to ride along the road with that kind of drive.)
“Paano kung nasagi niya ako, tapos walang video na pwedeng maging ebidensya, malamang tatakbuhan lang ako nun eh,” he added.
(What if he sideswiped me, and I did not have a video that would serve as evidence, probably, he would just run away.)
LTO earlier said videos uploaded on social media helped identify traffic violators. – Xander Dave Ceballos, INQUIRER.net intern