Ex-mayor who made gas attendant chase his car in Cagayan faces lifetime driving ban

The reported former mayor who made a gas attendant chase his car along Maharlika Highway in Allacapan, Cagayan for his vlog is facing a lifetime ban on driving, the Land Transportation Office said Monday.

“Matanggalan siya ng lisensya habang buhay at saka ang sasakyan niya na maalarma at hindi na niya magamit,” LTO chief Asec. Markus Lacanilao told Super Radyo dzBB, as he revealed that the vlogger was a former mayor.

(We will revoke his driver’s license for life, and his vehicle will be put on alarm so that he cannot use it.)

"Dati daw siyang politko, dating mayor (He is reportedly a former politician, a former mayor)," he added.

Lacanilao said the ex-politician fueled up at a gas station and fled without paying the bill.

From the passenger seat, he then took a video of the pump attendant, an indigenous person, chasing their vehicle for his vlog.

“Yung pump attendant, hindi katanggap-tanggap na parang ginawa niyang laruan na pinahabol-habol niya sa kainitan ng araw, ay katutubo pa ang pump attendant. Hindi po laruan ang tao,” Lacanilao said.

(It’s unacceptable for him to treat the pump attendant like a toy and made him chase them amid the heat. The pump attendant is an indigenous person. People are not toys.)

He added that based on the report, the former mayor apparently owned the gas station where the pump attendant was working.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap na gawing biro o content ang isang sitwasyong malinaw na naglalagay sa kapuwa sa panganib. Lalo na sa panahong nararanasan natin ang epekto ng pagtaas ng presyo ng langis, ang ganitong uri ng asal ay hindi lamang iresponsable, kundi nagpapakita rin ng kawalan ng malasakit,” said Lacanilao during his interview.

“Hindi ito nakakatuwa, at lalong hindi ito dapat tularan. Ang paggamit ng sasakyan ay may kaakibat na pananagutan, at pananagutan ding gamitin ito nang may paggalang sa kapwa at sa batas,” he added.

(It is unacceptable to make fun of or create content from a situation that clearly places someone in danger. Especially at a time when we are experiencing the effects of the fuel price hikes, this type of behavior is not only irresponsible, but shows a lack of compassion.)

(There is nothing amusing about this, and should not be copied. The use of a vehicle has a corresponding responsibility, and these should be used with respect to others and the law.)

LTO also issued a show cause order against the mayor, driver, and registered owner of the vehicle.

They are directed to explain why they should not face administrative cases, including reckless driving, and why they should not be declared as an improper person to operate a vehicle.

The driver is also directed to surrender his driver’s license, which is under a 90-day preventive suspension. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News