Motorist in ‘drifting’ video faces LTO, cites ‘family problems’ for his actions

The motorist who was caught on camera doing car tricks along busy Tomas Morato Avenue in Quezon City has apologized and appealed for leniency from the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Jovitchito Escoto, 27, appeared before the office of Law Enforcement Service Director Francis Ray Almora on Thursday in compliance with the show cause order issued by the LTO.

The hearing was closed to the media, but Almora, in an interview, said Escoto, accompanied by his counsel Niczon Yao, submitted his position paper on why his driver's license should not be suspended or revoked.

"He accepts what he had done and he is also engaged in the sports of car drifting, only that at that time he had some misjudgments on his part on doing the drifting activity in the area where it's not supposed to be done," Almora said.

"He's just appealing to the office to give him some lenient consideration on that infraction that he committed." 

The footage showed Escoto's car almost colliding with a truck while he is performing a motorsport called "drifting."

Family problems

In his two-page position paper submitted to the LTO, Escoto cited his "major family problems" and "lack of financial means" to justify his actions, adding that car drifting is an "outlet for his frustrations."

He repeated this when interviewed by the media before the hearing.

"'Yung napanood niyo po sa video dala lang po siguro ng problema ko sa pamilya kasi totoo po talaga na may pinagdadaanan ako sa problema sa pamilya ko," he said.

"Ayun po nung time ngang po 'yun parang sumabog na po. Sobrang hinanakit ko nadaan ko na lang siguro po sa manebela," he added.

He said he was not drunk when he performed the car trick. "Hindi naman po, kasi kung nakainom po ako, baka nabangga na po ako."

Cyberbullying

In his affidavit, Escoto said he "thought there’s adequate public road space where [I] can practice a few drifting moves while there were only a few passing cars."

He said he immediately left with the "honest belief that [I] did not violate any law since [I] did not hurt anyone nor caused any damage to property."

He also stated in his position paper that he has been a subject of cyberbullying ever since his drifting video had gone viral.

"As for the instant charge, respondent can only learn from the benefit of hindsight and the folly of his clouded judgment thinking he did nothing wrong at the time, and thus, humbly begs for maximum leniency as far as possible," Escoto's position paper read.

Escoto further stated that he needs his driver’s license as to continue his "driving and caregiving services" for his sick aunt who raised him.

Escoto, who is a previous transport network vehicle service driver, also expressed remorse for his actions and appealed to the public to refrain from being "judgmental."

“Hindi ko na po uulitin," he said. "First and last, hindi ko na po na gagawin .Sorry po, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa publiko [na] sana huwag masyadong judgmental."

LTO decision out in January

Meanwhile, due to the holiday season, the LTO said it will release a resolution regarding Escoto's case on the first week of January.

Almora said they will not solely rely on the position paper of Escoto as the agency’s Investigation and Intelligence Division are also collating other evidence and witnesses regarding the incident.

He said that they are intially looking at the violation of reckless driving which has a penalty of P5,000.

"At this point, I cannot give you any specific action now that the office will be taking on this case," Almora said.

A report on the case will be submitted to LTO chief Edgar Galvante, who will decide on whether Escoto's license will be suspended or revoked. —KBK, GMA News