LTFRB order should straighten up zigzagging jeepney

“SHOW-OFF” DRIVING The “patok” jeepney as caught on video zigzagging on Marcos Highway. The driver’s daredevil ways are now a cause of trouble for the public utility vehicle’s owner. Screengrab from wheninmanila.com

THE LAND Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday suspended for three months the franchise of a public utility jeepney that was caught on video zigzagging on Marcos Highway.

The driver, Mark Trudy Bumanlag, showed up at the LTFRB office in Quezon City to explain, claiming it was his conductor who was behind the wheel at the time. He also pointed out that the incident captured on video happened a year ago.

Bumanlag, however, failed to present the conductor during Tuesday’s hearing.

Even if it was the conductor who was driving, “why did he (Bumanlag) allow that when the conductor does not have any authority to drive a public utility vehicle?” said board member Ariel Inton.

The jeepney is the type known among some Metro Manila commuters as “patok”—usually with ornate, elongated bodies, fancy interiors and lighting, and blaring sound systems.

“The LTFRB would not wait for an accident to happen in order for us to act on this concern. That is why we would like call the attention of all patok drivers to refrain from that manner of driving,” Inton said.

Bumanlag said it was unfortunate that they got caught on video when many drivers hit the road that way to “show off.”

The LTFRB based the suspension order on the now viral video attributed to Mocha Uson of the entertainment group Mocha Girls.

The suspension took effect retroactively, on Jan. 20, when the front and back license plates of the jeepney (PPZ 269) were surrendered by the operator to the LTFRB. Erika Sauler