LTO calls jeepney drivers, operators to explain road rage in Caloocan

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II issues show cause orders on the drivers and registered owners of two public utility jeepneys in a road rage incident in Caloocan City. LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OFFICIAL WEBSITE

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued show cause orders on the drivers and registered owners of two public utility jeepneys in a road rage incident in Caloocan City.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II ordered jeepney operators and drivers to appear before the LTO Central Office in Quezon City on October 1 as they prepare to investigate the matter.

The jeepney owners were directed to identify their drivers whose unpleasant behaviors on the road were caught on video, which became viral on social media. They were also required to explain in writing why they should not be penalized for hiring reckless drivers.

The jeepney owners were likewise ordered to instruct their drivers to explain why the LTO should not charge them with reckless driving and obstruction of traffic, among others, and why their licenses should not be suspended or revoked.

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The road rage involving jeepneys with plate numbers TVS-273 and TVN-720 was recorded and uploaded by a netizen who witnessed the incident in Barangay Bagong Silang. As of this writing, t was not clear when the incident happened as of this writing.

One of the drivers was seen deliberately hitting the rear portion of the other jeepeney – all while both public utility vehicles have commuters aboard. The passengers eventually disembarked from the jeepneys one after the other, as they apparently sensed danger.

“Lubhang delikado ang ginawang dalawang driver na ito dahil kitang-kita sa video na nag-viral sa social media na may mga pasahero sila nung mangyari ang insidente,” Mendoza said in a statement Friday.

(What these two drivers did was extremely dangerous because it’s clearly shown in the viral video on social media that they had passengers when the incident happened.)

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“Hindi natin palalampasin ang mga ganitong klaseng asal lalo na ng mga tsuper ng pampublikong sasakyan dahil hindi lang ang buhay nila ang nilalagay nila sa alanganin kung hindi pati na rin ang kanilang mga pasahero,” he added.

(We will not tolerate this kind of behavior, especially from public transport drivers, because they are not only putting their own lives at risk but also the lives of their passengers.)

The LTO said it raised a temporary alarm against the two jeepeneys that prohibits them from any and all transactions, such as renewing their registrations, while the case is under investigation.