DOTr orders license of counterflowing SUV driver on Skyway revoked

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Sunday has ordered the license of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) driver who counterflowed along the Skyway to be perpetually revoked.

Video footage from the DOTr shows the SUV counterflowing at around 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.

LIVE sa DZBB: Sec. Vince Dizon, @DOTrPH

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“Ang iniutos natin sa LTO, i-revoke na perpetually ang lisensiya ng driver na ito. Talagang delikado ang ginawa niya,” DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon told Super Radyo DzBB.

(We ordered the Land Transportation Office to permanently revoke this driver’s license. What he did was truly dangerous.)

“Pina-show cause order na natin ang driver within this week. Mag-iimbestiga na tayo pero ang ni-recommend ko, inutos sa LTO, huwag nang palagpasin ito,” he added.

(We have already issued a show cause order to the driver this week. Investigation will begin, but I recommend and ordered the LTO not to let this slide.)

Dizon also said DOTr is looking into filing a complaint against the SUV driver, as it is currently waiting for the report from the tollway enforcers.

“Hindi lang sa ordinaryong kalye, sa Skyway mismo. Hindi katanggap-tanggap ito,”  Dizon said.

“Kitang-kita na halos hindi nag-menor. Hindi pwede ang ganito,”  he added.

(It was not on an ordinary road, but the Skyway. This is unacceptable. We clearly saw he did not even slow down. This will not be tolerated.)

The license of the SUV driver has been suspended for 90 days while the investigation is ongoing.

The driver was caught and received a violation ticket after the incident.

In a report by Vonne Aquino on 24 Oras Weekend, the Regional Highway Patrol Unit - National Capital Region and SLEX Sub-Office said the SUV entered the Skyway elevated Dona Soledad toll plaza northbound.

While traversing the Skyway, the SUV driver spotted an open steel bollard in the middle lane and transferred to the southbound lane.

CCTV showed the SUV blinking its headlights at incoming traffic before being spotted by Skyway personnel who caught the vehicle in front of the Pateros Hospital of the elevated highway.

The SUV driver was issued a violation receipt that also serves as a temporary operator's permit for reckless driving and illegal counterflow.

According to the erring motorist, he thought he counterflow is allowed on the Skyway. Dizon dismissed the excuse.  

"May mga sinasabi na nawala siya 'no? Pero based doon sa CCTV footage ng Skyway nag u-turn siya illegally doon sa exit, so, ibig sabihin kung nag u-turn ka alam mo yung ginagawa mo hindi 'yung basta-basta ka na lang nawala," said the DOTr head.

(There are claims that he was lost, no? Based on the CCTV footage from Skyway he made a u-turn illegally at the exit, so it means if he did that maneuver he knew what he was doing and not being lost all of a sudden.)   

Dizon said the Land Transportation Office has issued a show cause order to the driver and an investigation will begin on Monday. 

 Once the perpetual revocation takes effect, the driver will no longer be allowed to drive in the Philippines.

"Hindi natin pwedeng palampasin so, ito na 'yung inutos sa LTO so, immediately iimbestigahan ito pero 'yung proceedings tingin ko hindi ganun katagal... Kailangan mag-set tayo ng example dito na hindi pupwede itong mga ganitong klase ng pang aabuso sa kalye. Potentially nakakamatay itong mga ganitong mga ano, awa ng Diyos walang nangyari," he said.

(We cannot let this pass, this is what I have ordered the LTO, immediately investigate this incident but I don't think the proceedings will take long... We need to make an example. that this kind of abuse has no place on our roads. This could potentially kill people, thank God nothing happened.)

GMA Integrated News is currently looking for the SUV driver to get his side on the matter.

Similar incidents have occurred on the Skyway and has resulted in at least one fatal accident.

The DOTr reminded motorists to drive responsibly, to obey traffic laws and to always be careful as lives are at stake behind the wheel.)

"Privilege ang lisensya hindi 'yan karapatan, ibig sabihin kapag hindi ka sumunod pwede 'yang tanggalin sa iyo 'yang pribilehiyo na 'yan," Dizon said.

(A driver's license is a privilege, not a right, which means if you refuse to obey this privilege can be taken away from you.) — RF, GMA Integrated News