LTO issues show cause order vs. owner of SUV in viral Marikina road rage incident

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) to the registered owner of a sports utility vehicle (SUV) involved in a road rage incident in Marikina City.

According to a statement by LTO on Thursday, the SCO called the owner of the white Nissan Patrol to appear before the LTO-NCR by October 3 and explain why he should not be held liable for reckless driving, disregarding traffic sign, obstruction of traffic, and improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The issued SCO will also mean a preventive suspension of the vehicle’s registration for 90 days unless the incident is resolved earlier.

“Parami ng parami ng mga ganitong kaso pero hindi magsasawa ang inyong LTO na aksyunan ang lahat ng ito dahil kailangan nating tiyakin na ligtas ang ating mga kalsada sa lahat ng road users,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said. 

(There have been a growing number of road rage incidents, and LTO needs to act on these and ensure order and keep the roads safe.)

In a "24 Oras" report by Jun Veneracion on Thursday, the road rage incident occurred on May 16 when the driver of the SUV attacked a bicycle rider at a pedestrian lane, which caused heavy traffic.

The SUV driver, "Ronnie,” said the altercation started because he did not give way to the bike rider, who was not in the pedestrian lane when trying to cross the road.

“Kinatok nya ang bintana sa side ng wife ko kasi dadalhin ko sa ospital ang misis ko dahil nagha high blood nag sign po sya ng dirty finger at pinagmumura nya ako,” Ronnie said.

“Nagsabi sya sa akin ng ‘Pu!!### mo, taong gobyerno ako. Babalikan kita.’ Doon ako lalong nagalit sa kanya, so hinarurot ko sasakyan ko na akma ko syang bubungguin, pero di ko siya binunggo. Makikita naman sa video,” he added.

Despite this, both the rider and the biker confirmed that they were able to settle the incident at the Marikina Police on the same day.

“'Yung pinag-usapan namin tungkol sa damage na nasira sa bike ko binigyan nya ako ng isang libo yung paggawa. sa cellphone ko na nagka-crack binigyan nya ako ng isang libo para mapaayos ko tapos ok na, nagkapatawaran kam, wala na kami sama ng loob,” said the biker.

Ronnie said he would discuss the SCO with his lawyer.

“Magsisilbing aral ito sa ating mga kababayan na mabilis ang aksyon ng LTO dito at tiyak na may kaparusahan na ipapataw kaya kailangan na kontrolin ang galit dahil wala namang mabuting idudulot ito,” Mendoza said. 

(This should serve as a lesson on how fast LTO takes action in such incidents. The driver will be held liable. That's why we should control our emotions because it always ends badly.) —Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News