LTO suspends Capitol SUV driver’s license for 90 days

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO-7) has preventively suspended for 90 days the driver’s license of the 64-year-old Toledo City resident who struck and seriously injured a Cebu City traffic enforcer, while placing his Isuzu MU-X under alarm status pending an administrative investigation.

The suspension took effect immediately after the LTO issued a show-cause order on Thursday, July 2, directing the driver to appear before the agency’s Operations Division on July 6 and explain why he should not face administrative sanctions for the incident.

LTO-7 Regional Director Wendel Dinglasan said the driver’s actions could make him administratively liable as an “improper person to operate a motor vehicle” under Section 27 of Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, as well as for reckless driving under Section 48 of the same law.

READ: License revocation sought for SUV driver who hit Cebu traffic enforcer

The agency also ordered the driver to surrender his license during the scheduled hearing.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, the LTO placed the Isuzu MU-X involved in the incident under alarm status, temporarily blocking any transaction involving the vehicle before the agency.

“The driver’s license is hereby preventively suspended for a period of ninety (90) days, effective immediately upon receipt of this Order,” the LTO said in its order.

LTO cites CCTV footage

In the show-cause order, the LTO cited CCTV footage showing the SUV initially stopping after receiving a hand signal from a Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) traffic enforcer managing traffic at the intersection of Escario Street and Osmeña Boulevard on Wednesday morning, July 1.

The agency said the driver suddenly moved forward without authorization, hitting the enforcer and knocking him to the ground.

READ: Driver faces reckless imprudence raps in Capitol enforcer accident

Instead of stopping, the SUV allegedly accelerated, ran over the victim, and continued moving.

“Instead of stopping to render aid, you suddenly accelerated, running over the fallen enforcer and causing severe injuries. You then attempted to flee the scene, manifesting a clear intent to abscond from legal liability,” the order stated.

The LTO said the administrative proceedings would not prevent authorities from pursuing separate criminal and civil cases against the driver.

Criminal complaint escalates

The LTO action came hours after the Cebu City Police Office’s Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) announced that it would upgrade the criminal complaint against the driver from reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injuries to direct assault with attempted homicide.

Traffic investigator Police Staff Sergeant Jacinto Arnado Jr. said investigators recommended the higher charges because the victim, traffic enforcer Jovanie Verano, was in uniform and actively performing official traffic control duties when the incident occurred.

Investigators said CCTV footage showed Verano directing traffic when he flagged down the Isuzu MU-X before proceeding toward the middle lane to ease congestion.

The vehicle initially stopped but allegedly accelerated after the enforcer turned his back, striking him and running over his left hand before continuing without immediately stopping to render assistance.

Driver blamed brake release

During the initial investigation, the driver told CCTO officials that the collision happened after he accidentally released the brake pedal of his automatic transmission vehicle while waiting at the intersection.

CCTO head Raquel Arce earlier said the retired engineer claimed he had already stopped when Verano flagged him down but failed to shift the SUV into park or neutral before lifting his foot off the brake, causing the vehicle to move forward unexpectedly.

READ: 4 dead, 11 injured as wayward cargo truck plows into wake in Quezon

The driver also denied intentionally fleeing the scene, saying he became rattled after the collision.

However, investigators said the vehicle continued moving until concerned bystanders helped stop it and turned the driver over to authorities.

Doctor advised him not to drive

Arce also disclosed that the driver had undergone heart bypass surgery in April and admitted that his doctor had advised him not to resume driving.

She said the driver nevertheless drove from Toledo City to Cebu City to process property documents near the Cebu Provincial Capitol when the incident happened.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Tommy Osmeña earlier said the city government would pursue criminal charges and seek the permanent revocation of the driver’s license. He described the driver’s alleged actions after the initial impact as “inexcusable.”

The city has also committed to shoulder the medical expenses of Verano, who suffered fractures in all three bones of the ring finger on his left hand after the SUV ran over it. Doctors continue to monitor him for other possible injuries.

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