DISARMED Police Staff Sgt. Marsan Dolipas is caught on video pinning to the ground a motorcycle rider identified as Angelito Rencio after the latter allegedly sideswiped his car in Makati City on Aug. 25, 2024. (Screenshot from a Facebook video taken by JOON OLAVER)
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has suspended the driver’s licenses of a police sergeant and an alleged retired soldier involved in another viral road rage in Makati.
The LTO chief, Vigor Mendoza II, also issued a show cause order on the motorists — Police Staff Sgt. Marsan Dolipas and Angelito Rencio, who identified himself as a retired member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Intelligence Service, according to a statement issued by the office on Wednesday.
“I personally watched the video that went viral on social media. So we immediately ordered the temporary suspension of the license of the two people involved in this incident. They will also have to explain why their professional driver’s license should not be revoked,” Mendoza said in Filipino.
“Our immediate action is in accordance with the order of our DOTr [Department of Transportation] Secretary Jaime Bautista to be quick in responding against people who we consider a threat to the safety of motorists.”
Mendoza said the LTO has the power to temporarily suspend the driver’s license of any motorist who has committed grave offenses that compromise road safety rules and regulations as set in the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
The Southern Police District earlier reported that the two were caught in a squabble after Rencio cursed Dolipas while raising his middle finger. That led to a scuffle that was caught on a video that went viral on social media.
The video shows Dolipas holding a gun as he pinned down Rencio. Dolipas said he was holding the gun “as a precautionary measure” and said that he had wrested it from Rencio.
The LTO asked Dolipas and Rencio to explain in a notarized affidavit why they should not be held liable for reckless Driving, “improper person to use a motorized vehicle,” and obstruction of traffic – all violations under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Meanwhile, Dolipas and the woman who is the registered owner of the motorcycle he was driving were also asked to explain why they should not be penalized. LTO records revealed that the motorcycle was not registered, a violation of Rule II-A of Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.
Mendoza said the LTO in Metro Manila is already blocking any attempts to quickly register the motorcycle while the investigation was ongoing.
All this developed just a day after the LTO also summoned and suspended the driver’s license of Wilbert Gonzales, a retired police officer — who also turned out to be a co-terminus employee of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario — for pulling out and cocking a gun against a cyclist in Quezon City.