LTO summons driver of modern jeepney in viral counterflow video

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order (SCO) against the driver of a modern jeepney who recently went viral on social media for executing a counterflow in Caloocan City which endangered other road users.

In a statement over the weekend, the LTO said it also imposed a 90-day preventive suspension on the driver’s license of the modern jeepney driver.

The modern jeepney was also placed under an LTO alarm while the agency’s investigation of the incident is ongoing.

The LTO cited a viral video which showed the modern jeepney executing a counterflow in the middle of heavy traffic in Malaria, Caloocan City.

It said the driver’s maneuver posed a danger to the safety of his passengers and other road users.

“Bukod pa rito, ang driver ay bumaba ng sasakyan at hinarap ang taong nagrekord ng insidente,” the LTO said.

(Aside from this, the driver even alighted from the vehicle and faced the person recording the incident.)

LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao reminded drivers of public utility vehicles to prioritize the safety of their passengers and other road users.

“Ang mga batas sa trapiko ay hindi inilaan para hadlangan ang inyong trabaho, kung di para tiyakin na ligtas tayong lahat sa daan. Ang anumang aksyong labag sa mga regulasyon, tulad ng pag-counterflow na maaaring magdulot ng aksidente, ay hindi lamang nagpapahamak sa sarili kung di pati na rin sa iba pang mga pasahero at motorista,” Lacanilao said.

(Traffic rules are there not to hinder your livelihood, but to ensure that we are all safe on the road. Any actions that violate regulations, such as executing counterflows that might cause accidents, will not just endanger them but their passengers and other motorists as well.)

“Hinihikayat ko ang lahat na igalang at sundin ang mga batas sa trapiko, dahil sa bawat tamang aksyon natin sa kalsada, nakakatulong tayo na gawing ligtas na daanan ang mga kalsada ng Pilipinas para sa lahat,” he added.

(I enjoin everyone to respect and follow traffic rules, because each correct action on the street means that we help keep the roads of the Philippines safe for everyone.)

The SCO compelled the transport cooperative and the driver of the modern jeepney to appear before the LTO – Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID) on January 21, Wednesday at 10 a.m.

The driver and the representative of the transport cooperative were ordered to submit a verified comment or sworn statement to explain why the driver should not be penalized for reckless driving, disregarding traffic signs, and for being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.

The transport cooperative was also required to explain why they should not be sanctioned for employing an “arrogant, disrespectful, and irreverent” driver.

The LTO stressed that should the respondents fail to appear during the hearing to submit their explanations, this will be taken to mean that they are waiving their right to be heard and that the complaint will be resolved based on the LTO’s evidence at hand. — JMA, GMA Integrated News