LTO disqualifies, revokes license of alleged Mandaluyong hit-and-run driver

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday revoked the license of the alleged driver of an SUV that ran over a security guard in Mandaluyong City last week.

This developed after the supposed driver, Jose Antonio V. Sanvicente, failed to appear before the LTO several times, despite the show cause orders directing him to appear and submit his explanation for the incident.

The LTO also said that their records showed that Sanvicente had three previous reckless driving incidents to his name and was apprehended for these in 2010, 2015, and 2016.

“Taken as a whole, his actions are tantamount to the acts of an improper person to operate a motor vehicle pursuant to Section 27 (a) of Republic Act (R.A) 4136 otherwise known as the ‘Land Transportation and Traffic Code’,” the LTO said in a statement.

“The Non-Professional Driver’s License of Mr. Sancicente was ordered revoked pursuant to Section 27 of R.A. 4136 and he is perpetually disqualified from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle,” it added.

To recall, the LTO previously issued a show cause order against Sanvicente after dashcam footage showing a RAV4 with license plate NCO 3781 running over victim Christian Joseph Floralde before fleeing the scene circulated on social media.

The LTO has since suspended the motorist's license for 90-days.

Sanvicente, however, did not show up at the first hearing set on June 6. The LTO scheduled a final show cause order hearing on June 10 but he again failed to attend.

The agency thus decided to sanction the motorist based on the evidence that they had. The LTO found Sanvicente liable for violating Section 55 (Duty of driver in case of accident) of R.A. 4136 when he abandoned the scene and the victim.

“Together with his disregard for the authority of the LTO, his acts are considered unacceptable behaviors of a driver,” the LTO said.

Sotto calls for arrest order

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III called for the issuance of an arrest order against Sanvicente.

“Instead of inviting, instead of asking for attendance, or expecting them to attend, there should be an order of arrest. Ganun ang thinking ko. Blatant, kitang-kita, sobra. A good driver will not do that,” Sotto told reporters in a press briefing.

(Instead of inviting, instead of asking for attendance, or expecting them to attend, there should be an order of arrest. That’s what I’m thinking. You can see it’s blatant. A good driver will not do that.)

“Yun lang aso o kaya pusa, iiwasan mo, di ba? Ito, tao eh. Anong klase yun? Why are we using kid’s gloves pagka ganun, that’s my point,” he said.

(You wouldn't run over a dog or cat, right? In this case, it's a person. Why are we using kid’s gloves… that’s my point.)

He warned that the failure to arrest the driver could set a bad precedent and may lead to other similar incidents.

“It is a bad sign to the people. It is a bad sign to other drivers na okay lang pala eh, di ba? Kaya hindi maganda, kailangan talaga kumilos ang otoridad. People might think that they are incompetent,” he said.

(It is a bad sign for people. It is a bad sign to other drivers that these things are okay. That’s why authorities need to act fast. People might think that they are incompetent.) — DVM, GMA News