Trike driver in viral video had expired driver's license, other violations

The tricycle driver who went viral for executing a counterflow and taunting other motorists in Quezon City may not be liable for the maneuver – but he is still in hot water for driving with expired documents and travelling along a national road, where tricycles are not allowed.

According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the tricycle driver maintained that he did nothing wrong since North Avenue – the road where the viral incident took place – was open to two-way traffic that night.

GMA Integrated News was able to reach out to the tricycle driver at his home in Quezon City, who admitted that he was adversely affected by the video that went the rounds of social media.

He explained that he did not execute an illegal counterflow since North Avenue – in particular near the ongoing construction of the North Triangle Common Station – was open to two-way traffic at that time. This was because the other lane was already closed.

“Siya yung counterflow, hindi naman ako yung counterflow doon eh (He was the one who did the counterflow, not me),” the driver said, referring to the motorist who recorded and uploaded the now-viral video.

The tricycle driver admitted that he is negatively affected by the backlash he got as a result of the video, and that even his child was angry at him upon watching it.

“Ako yung sinisisi. Tapos may mga banta rin sa akin, kung ano ano ang sinasabi. Eto siyempre nakakaano ko sa akin ‘yun,” he said.

(They blame me. There were also threats against me, they say all sorts of things. Of course that would affect me.)

He maintained that the video did not show the entirety of the incident, adding that the motorist confronted him for the supposed counterflow maneuver.

“Basta pagbabang-pagbaba niya po, pasigaw po na minura po ako, ‘Bakit hindi ka umatras?’ … Sabi niya, one-way daw, hindi naman po one-way ‘yun eh,” he said.

(Upon alighting from his vehicle, he shouted at me and hurled invectives at me. ‘Why don’t you go back?’… He said it’s a one-way flow, but it was not one-way then.)

The tricycle driver admitted that he was already annoyed at that time, hence his reaction in the video, which showed him sarcastically saying, “Palakpakan!” (Let’s clap) while clapping.

The tricycle driver’s father – the registered owner of the tricycle, added: “Bago kayo sumakay sa mga ganyan, tanungin niyo muna ‘yung totoo, alalamin niyo muna ‘yung totoo.”

(Before you ride on issues like that, ask and find out what really happened.)

The Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department confirmed that the tricycle driver did not commit any counterflow violation.

However, he had several other violations – such as an expired vehicle registration and driving with an expired driver’s license. In addition, he was not allowed to travel along North Avenue, which is a national road that is off-limits to tricycles.

“Tricycle ban, expired driver’s license, inappropriate, invalid driver’s license because hindi siya dapat namamasada,” said Dexter Cardenas, head of Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department.

(Tricycle ban, expired driver’s license, inappropriate, invalid driver’s license because he should be plying any routes.)

The Quezon City Traffic and Transport Management Department summoned the tricycle driver and his father. The father admitted to the violations and said they will face these before the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which issued a show cause order (SCO) against them following the viral video. — JMA, GMA Integrated News