LTO orders dismissal of patrol car driver caught counterflowing in Santiago City

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered the dismissal of the driver of one of its patrol vehicles and the filing of charges against him after a viral video showed the vehicle counterflowing in Santiago City on August 12.

In a press release issued Saturday, the LTO said an initial evaluation of the video confirmed that the vehicle entered the wrong lane, causing it to counterflow and disrupt traffic outside XentroMall.

“Pinasisibak ko ang nasabing drayber at inihahanda na ang pagsasampa ng kaukulang kaso laban sa kanya,” LTO Director Markus Lacanilao said.

(I have ordered the dismissal of the driver, and appropriate charges are being prepared against him.)

“Walang sinuman ang higit sa batas, kabilang ang ating mga sariling tauhan,” he added.

(No one is above the law, including our own personnel.)

Following the driver’s identification, the LTO issued a Show Cause Order directing him to appear before the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID).

He was also ordered to submit a written explanation and relevant documents regarding the alleged violations of traffic obstruction and disregarding traffic rules.

The LTO said an investigation is ongoing to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to hold the driver liable for being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, as well as for other possible violations.

The driver’s license was placed under a 90-day preventive suspension and ordered surrendered to the IID, where it will remain flagged under an alarm status while the investigation is ongoing.— MCG, GMA News