LTO identifying gas-and-run driver in Payatas, QC

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday said it is the process of identifying the driver who fueled up at a gas station in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City early Monday morning and fled without settling the bill.

“Sa ngayon, nakikipag-coordinate yung intelligence division namin dun sa biktima para makuha ‘yung detalye,” LTO chief Asec. Markus Lacanilao told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Right now, our intelligence division is coordinating with the victim to get the details.)

Lacanilao said he has already ordered placing the vehicle on alarm, which means the registered owner cannot transfer or renew the vehicle's registration.

“Sa oras na mag rehistro siya at hindi ma-rehistro, mahuli namin [at] impound na po yun (Once he renews the registration of the vehicle and it cannot be registered, we will catch him and the vehicle will be impounded),” Lacanilao said.

“Dahil gumamit siya ng sasakyan, ang mandato namin sa LTO, ‘yung registration ng sasakyan at lisensya, kaya puwede naming patawan siya ng show cause order para maalarma yung sasakyan,” he added.

(Because he used a vehicle, our mandate at the LTO is to check the vehicle registration and license, so we can issue him a show cause order to have the vehicle alarmed.)

Lacanilao further said once the driver has been identified, their license will be suspended, and it could be permanently revoked once the crime is proven.

According to dzBB reporter Glen Juego’s report, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the driver fled without settling the P1,500 bill.

QCPD Director General Randy Glenn Silvio said the gas-and-run incident occurred at a gasoline station in the corner of Payatas Road and Empire Street.

Juego reported that from Payatas Road, the driver fled in the direction of LITEX Road.

Authorities are also conducting backtracking operations to locate the vehicle, a white four-door sedan.

In late March, another driver fueled up at a Quezon City gas station and fled without settling the P5,196 fuel bill.

The 27-year-old suspect later surrendered to QCPD and faces estafa charges. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/GMA News