DOTr cancels licenses of 3 GV Florida bus drivers over viral ‘racing’ video

GV Florida passenger bus (File photo from NOY MORCOSO III / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has revoked the licenses of three GV Florida Transport, Inc. drivers following a viral video in which six of the company’s buses were seen apparently racing.

The video circulating online showed the buses supposedly speeding down a national highway in Cagayan last Sunday, June 8.

“We have already revoked the licenses of the three drivers,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in a press conference at the agency’s office in San Juan City on Friday.

“But we have a problem because Florida won’t give up the three other drivers,” he disclosed.

“If they don’t give up these drivers, the LTO will cancel the registration of the buses involved. They won’t be able to use those,” the secretary warned.

Dizon gave the bus company until Monday to respond.

For his part, LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said, “Our request is very simple. If there’s no liability, it’ll be easy to explain.”

“The mere fact that they are not volunteering this evidence, the presumption of law is that the evidence they have is adverse to them. Their problem is only getting deeper,” Mendoza noted.

READ: DOTr suspends 15 GV Florida bus units over viral Cagayan racing video

In a statement on Monday, June 9, GV Florida apologized for the issue but claimed that the video spreading was sped up.

When asked about the statement, Dizon said DOTr already met with the uploader.

The secretary just could not immediately give the details of what they discussed.

“Assuming it was fast-forwarded, it’s very clear in the video that they overtook the other vehicle through the opposite lane. That’s not allowed.)

“What if there was a vehicle heading in the opposite direction, then they collided and someone died there? Will they be giving the same defense? I don’t think so,” Dizon aired his anger.

The incident prompted the DOTr last Tuesday to suspend 15 of the company’s buses that were serving the routes from Santa Ana to Sampaloc in Cagayan, and from Baguio City to Apayao province.

The suspension is effective for 30 days./apl