The Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7 has directed the mayor of Dumanjug town in Cebu to explain an incident wherein he was caught making an illegal counterflow while driving a motorcycle, which ended with him slamming into a van.

The incident happened on the national highway in Barangay Pakigne in the town of Minglanilla and was captured on a dash cam.

LTO-7 also suspended the driver’s license of Mayor Efren Gica preventively for 90 days while it investigates the incident.

Gica, who has since taken responsibility for what happened, said he agrees with the initial decision of LTO-7.

He also said in jest that his wife and mother would be glad if LTO-7 would revoke his license because they never wanted him to drive a motorcycle.

“Sakto ra pud nga i-suspenso akong license kay lagi, bisan kinsa, we have to be careful sa karsada, swerte lang nga wala’y tawo o wala’y kinabuhi nga naamong ba, so pasalamat lang sad ko, pero ug unsa man kaha’y decision, motubag pa man ko, naa pa may how many days to prepare sa akong reply, including to surrender my license and to pay for the penalty sa reckless driving, mobayad ko maybe tomorrow. Kun unsa man kaha, i-revoke akong lisensya or suspenso, kun i-revoke, murag magpista gyud akong asawa ug akong mama, kay di sila ganahan mag-motor-motor ko,” Gica said.

Gica has decided to seek medical help after feeling pain in different parts of his body.

INCIDENT

Since he made an illegal counterflow, Gica rammed into the van as the bigger vehicle was making a turn on the u-turn slot.

The impact threw the mayor off the vehicle and onto the road.

In an interview with reporters, he admitted being at fault. He said he decided to go to the opposite lane because it was empty of traffic at that time. The incident happened on a Sunday.

He said he also was not aware that a u-turn slot exists on that part of the road.

“Dugay man, mahadlok mi nga mo-stop og balik (traffic light), so, sayop gyud nako, I have to admit nga sayop nako, nga niadto ko sa pikas lane kay kita nako, hawan gyud kaayo ba, makita man siguro ninyo sa video, hawan gyud kaayo ang karsada, so ni-overtake ko, kusog akong dagan not knowing nga naa diay u-turn area diha kay all the while I was thinking ang Minglanillla is no left turn na tanan,” Gica said.

He said it was actually him who reported the incident to LTO-7. His motorcycle has since been impounded.

SETTLED

The chief of the Minglanilla Police, Lt. Col. Theresa Macatangay, said both parties have reached an agreement, which was why no case was filed.

“As to the damages in relation to ‘reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property,’ nagka-settle na ang parties and mga bayranan. As to the mayor’s Ducati, it’s in the custody of our MITCOM as of this time. As to the other violations in the traffic code, we submit to the investigation already commenced by LTO-7,” she said.

Gica said he has spoken to the owner and the driver of the van. He will shoulder all expenses in having the van fixed, and compensate for the income lost.

PLATE NUMBER

Gica also clarified that his motorcycle has a temporary plate number but he reportedly kept it because it was already dangling loosely as it was secured only with a tire wire.

“Ang plate number ana for registration pa, unya nagkawil-kawil naman gud siya, gihigtan ra man gud to og tire wire, wala gi-vault ba, so gitangtang na lang nako, unya akong gisud sa akoang, naa man na bag ang akong motor, akong gisud. Unya diha sad sa bag, naa sad ko’y mga certificate ug kadtong resibo sa motor,” he said.